It's an event which fleeces everyone, but in a good way. The Wool Awards hosted by Ermenegildo Zegna, an annual event wool growers around the world look forward to, held its 50th anniversary at The Royal Hall of Industries in Sydney on April 23.
"The Zegna Award appeals to some of the growers that are at the very extreme of excellence as it rewards the best of the best," explains Stuart McCullough, CEO of Australian Wool Innovation, a non-profit company which invests in research, development and marketing.
"We want our farmers to be remunerated adequately for their efforts because it's a hard job. Wool growers and their families put in a lot of time and effort to improve the genetics of the Merino sheep. The reward's made a big difference. There's no doubt about it, any award or reward system will speed up the process of improvement and progress, naturally. Clearly, it has hastened the progress."
The first Ermenegildo Zegna Extrafine Wool Trophy was awarded in 1963 in Tasmania and was given for the most outstanding fleeces. The criteria covered technical aspects regarding trueness to type, conformity of length, soundness, handle, colour, character, density, evenness, yield and quality.
During the 1960s, wool growers were moving towards coarser framed sheep, which would guarantee a higher profit margin, yet Zegna believed there was a future in fine fabrics. The trophy was created to encourage production of finer fibres: those that are stronger, softer, lighter and more even in texture that make up 60-70% of Zegna's apparel. The 1963 trophy was won by Mount Morriston Estate, Tasmania, owned by Mr and Mrs Ian Stephen. In 2002, another trophy was conceived to celebrate advances achieved by Australian wool growers. The Vellus Aureum (Golden Fleece) Trophy was launched to recognise wool 13.9 microns and finer. (1 micron = 1 thousandth of a millimetre.) By far, the world record is 10.0 microns, with the immaculately-soft ultrafine fleece coming from Ed and Jill Hundy's estate in 2010. Along with the Vellus Aureum Trophy, 750g of gold also provides motivation.
"It is an award my uncle and father started to distinguish between wool and superfine wool," recalls Paolo Zegna, chairman of Ermenegildo Zegna. "Wool was treated as a commodity in Australia, but our fathers said that wool is not a commodity. Compared to other natural fibres and man-made fibres, it is very small and delicate. We simply want to reward our companions in fashion and to send the message to the world that superfine wool has to stand up for what it is, has to be perceived for what it is and paid for what it is." Both awards this year, the Zegna Wool Trophy and the Vellus Aurum Trophy, were won by the Hundy family from Windradeen Homestead, Adaminaby, in the state of New South Wales.
Long-time veterans of the competition, the Hundys, along with son Andrew and his wife Penny, have scored the Vellus Aurum Trophy three years in succession, with fleece measuring only 11.5 microns.
Along with the awards ceremony, a runway show on a lengthy golden glass catwalk featured in the autumn/winter 2013 collection. It also showcased the capsule collection, which uses Trofeo Natural Comfort, a herringbone pattern made from the winning fleeces from the first Wool Trophies and highlights styles produced by the Lanificio in the 1960s. The collection also features printed fabric with dot art paintings to pay tribute to Australian Aboriginal culture. Guests such as Aussie celebrities, in their Zegna finest, namely Megan Gale and Chris Hemsworth, were also part of the celebrations, while The Temper Trap played the main gig for this stylishly rewarding night.
From left: Andrew and Penny Hundy, Paolo Zegna, Ed and Jill Hundy and Gildo Zegna on stage with both trophies
