In this episode, Andy Caughey, Managing Director of Armadillo Merino, talks about how he founded the business, what key challenges he had to overcome and how he managed to get his Armadillo Merino t-shirts into space. Andy Caughey explains his view on how wool products are multi-attribute products and once consumer understand a wool products they are customers for life.

About Andy Caughey from Armadillo Merino

Andy is a New Zealander and was born into wool. He was raised on a sheep station in West Otago before studying international commerce and marketing at Lincoln University.

Andy left New Zealand in 1988 to champion wool internationally. By executing growth strategies with the New Zealand Merino Company, Ibex Outdoor Clothing and John Smedley he has actively promoted the unique performance attributes of wool and commercially linked fashion brands through the value chain back to wool producers.

Armadillo Merino® was launched in 2011 in response to the injuries being inflicted on soldiers and first responders from wearing synthetics next-to-skin. Armadillo Merino® designs and manufactures skin-side clothing that is now being worn by professionals operating in high risk and extreme environments including astronauts, special forces, firefighters and other remarkable first responders.

Connect with Andy Caughey here

Website: https://armadillomerino.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/armadillomerino

Twitter: https://twitter.com/armadillomerino

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/armadillomerino/

Email: Andy@armadillomerino.com

 

 

In this episode, we talk to Peter Ackroyd who is the COO of the Campaign for Wool and the President of the International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO). Peter shares insights about the start of the Campaign for Wool together with HRH The Prince of Wales and the latest campaign’s event. He also talks about provenance and wool’s environmental credentials providing value to retailers, brands and the consumer.

About Peter Ackroyd

Peter Ackroyd is the Global Strategic Advisor for The Woolmark Company in Sydney, Australia and the Chief Operating Officer of the Campaign for Wool. In May 2011 he was elected President of the International Wool Textile Organisation and re-elected in April 2016. Specialising in world markets for woollen and worsted yarns and fabrics, Peter has particular expertise in marketing in Europe, the Middle East, Japan, Korea and China, along with in-depth knowledge of the menswear supply chain ‘from farm to fashion’. He also serves as Vice President of the Strategy Board of Première Vision Paris.

Connect with Peter Ackroyd here

Campaign for Wool

International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO)

The Woolmark Company

Explore and get inspired by the Wool Lab

 

UK based wool grower Lesley Prior of the sheep property Bowmont near Devon gives insights on how she created a successful wool operation with different sources of income streams through engagement along the supply chain.

About Lesley Prior from Tellenby Merino

Lesley Prior is a sheep farmer producing Superfine Merino wool and Mongolian grade Cashmere in the UK under the brand name Tellenby Merino. She has strong international links with other wool growers and regularly imports new genetics from Australia. Lesley is, together with a business partner in Australia, currently developing a new strain of Dual Purpose Merino with wide appeal to European growers.

A council member of the Campaign For Wool, she has broad experience of the industry from greasy fibre to finished garment.  She was recently invited to speak to the Australian Superfine Wool Growers Association Congress about marketing wool direct to retailers in Northern Europe.

Over the past few years Lesley has developed a Consultancy service and has worked in Afghanistan for the US Government and for a Growers Group in Switzerland. She has a unique knowledge of the supply and processing chain for both wool and cashmere and the particular challenges of marketing to Northern European consumers. She enjoys sharing her passion for the wool industry by creating new connections and business opportunities for people.

Connect with Lesley here

Website: https://www.tellenbymerino.com/