New knitwear range launches using Blackface wool from the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere

A new knitwear range has been launched using Blackface wool from the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere. The first-ever Merrick Scottish Blackface Knitwear garments, designed by Jo Storie, have gone on sale this week to mark Wool Month 2024. This social enterprise is considered to be the first global fashion brand utilising Scottish Blackface wool for high-end clothing, with profits supporting grassroots climate and sustainable development projects. Marie McNulty, Deputy Manager and Business Development Lead for the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Partnership, expressed excitement over the classic designs created by Jo Storie for the Merrick Scottish Blackface Knitwear launch. She highlighted the importance of fashion becoming a positive influence, especially with the fashion industry’s significant carbon emissions impact. Textile production contributes more to climate change than international aviation and shipping combined, making initiatives like this crucial.

The full Merrick range is sourced and made in Britain, including the finest wool from Blackface sheep in the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere. Over 150 farmers and shepherds in the region produce 45,000 kilos of premium-grade wool annually, ensuring an abundant supply for the production of 20,000 jumpers. Buyers of Merrick Scottish Blackface Knitwear can feel proud knowing their purchase supports a sustainable economy and contributes to addressing the global climate crisis. The launch of this knitwear range aims to boost the value of Blackface wool and reduce carbon footprints, supported by a crowdfunding campaign. Collaborators include British Wool, the Scottish Blackface Sheep Breeders’ Association, and various stakeholders from the Biosphere region and beyond.

Designer Jo Storie expressed privilege in being part of the Merrick Scottish Blackface Knitwear project, highlighting the wool’s versatility, sustainability, and quality that rivals luxury knitwear brands. The wool’s thermoregulating, insulating, and biodegradable properties make it an ideal choice for clothing. To learn more about Merrick Scottish Blackface Knitwear, visit www.merrickscotland.com.

In summary, the launch of the Merrick Scottish Blackface Knitwear range using Blackface wool from the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere marks a significant step towards sustainable fashion. This innovative social enterprise not only offers high-end clothing but also supports climate and sustainable development initiatives, showcasing the potential for fashion to be a positive force for change.