The use of Brushtail Possum fibre in New Zealand benefits our environment by contributing to a reduction in the use of broadcast poisons; and to the effort to protect our native forest and birds. The Brushtail Possum is an animal introduced to New Zealand in 1837 from Australia; it is only found in Australasia. The Brushtail Possum is New Zealand’s biggest ecological threat.

Brushtail Possums occupy 95% of New Zealand, with an estimated total of nearly 60 million eating their way through thousands of tonnes of native vegetation each night, they also eat the eggs and chicks of our native species. They are legally classified as pests. Much of the control of possums has been through broadcast toxic chemicals which New Zealand wants to reduce or eliminate.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) support our use of possum fur.

The Brushtail Possum fibre has two rare qualities

• No scales so the fibre itself resists pilling, there is no friction you see! Our garments stay looking new for ages. The more possum fibre in the blend the more the garments resist pilling!
• A hollow structure so the fibre has a very high warmth to weight ratio, air is trapped both within the fibre and in the fabric when blended with high crimp, fine Merino (just like insulation) so that is why our garments are so warm yet not bulky. For its weight, Merino wool blended with Brushtail Possum fibre is twice as warm as any other wool blend in the world!