Return To Woollen Fashions In U.S.

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31655, 16 April 1968, Page 1

Return To Woollen Fashions In U.S.

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, April 15. American wardrobes were full of synthetic garments and buyers were now returning to woollen fashion clothes, said Mr J. Koret, chairman of directors of Koret of California.

Mr Koret’s company, and three subsidiaries, are among the largest producers of ready-to-wear women’s wear in the United States. They produce about 10 million garments a year, about a quarter of them from woollen fabrics. "This year we have had better bookings for our woollen fashions than for the last three,” said Mr Koret, who arrived in Auckland as a passenger in the liner Monterey He said that fashion designers were turning out new and beautiful designs. Wool, he said, was no longer bought for its warmth, because of air conditioning. It had, however, come of age as a top fashion material.

Mr Koret said his company was a very large user of wool. “For instance, our men's suits, which I say are shockingly high in price—ranging from $250 at the least expensive up to $350 —are all made of pure wool,” he said. Ninety per cent of the wool was “Australian” wool from Australia and New Zealand. “I don’t see any major trend away from wool,” added Mr Koret. “The quality garment will always be almost pure wool.”