Wool designs delight

Press, 5 August 1985, Page 8

Wool designs delight

Talented New Zealand women lack confidence in their ability and ideas. This is the observation of Matt Patterson, marketing director of the Hamiltonbased Woolrest Corporation, which is sponsoring a national search for new ways to use wool. “'The Woolrest Wool Design Awards, with prizes totalling up to $40,000, aims to encourage and reward people with new product ideas, concepts, and designs which feature New Zealand wool,” Mr Patterson says. “We have been delighted at the initial interest shown and the number of direct inquiries made for more information, but then amazed to repeatedly hear women saying, ‘I don’t think my jersey, or idea is good enough to enter.’

“We have received almost 900 direct enquiries, and more than half the women

we have spoken to expressed doubts about their ability and ideas.” When Woolrest got a chance to talk to these women further, they shyly revealed they had knitted and sewn for their families and friends for years. “They tell us how they have lovingly made — often to their own designs — woollen garments and gifts which have been treasured by the recipients,” he says, “and • perhaps passed proudly from generation to generation. “This is surely a very special talent. Yet these same women don’t seem to appreciate just how creative they are.” New Zealanders, especially women, had a long tradition of working with wool — as knitters,

spinners, weavers, designers, and as users of woollen products. “We know there is potential for some great new wool ideas which will ultimately support one of New Zealand’s most vital industries. “New Zealanders are known world-wide for their innovative abilities.

“We’re just having trouble motivating people to believe their skills are worth while and needed by the wool industry.

“I think we made a mistake calling these ‘Design Awards’.

“The word ‘designer’ seems to intimidate. One of the most frequent comments from the women we have spoken to is, ‘Yes, I love to work with wool, I am interested in entering,

but I’m just not a designer’.” But Mr Patterson says Woolrest is sure the awards will produce some top-class ideas of long-term benefit to the wool industry. Entries close on August 16. The company is able to cope with plenty of entries in the time remaining.

The awards have been promoted through schools, technical institutes, women’s organisations, craft groups and shops, drapers, supermarkets, retailers, libraries, retirement homes, the media, and many other sources.

Anyone wishing to enter the Woolrest Wool Design Awards can telephone Hamilton 82-980 collect, for details, or write to Box 419, Hamilton.