Wool has been showcased as the green thread in sustainable fashion at a special event held at Buckingham Palace as part of a new initiative called the Commonwealth Fashion Exchange.
Hosted by HRH The Duchess of Cambridge and HRH The Countess of Wessex on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen, Head of the Commonwealth and attended by leaders in the fashion and sustainability industries, the event showcased wool as a natural, renewable and biodegradable fibre.
The reception saw 30 Commonwealth Fashion Exchange creations displayed in the Palace's State Apartment.
Each design was a collaboration between a designer and an artisan.
Wool was the common thread in the garments on display with many designers sourcing fabric through The Woolmark certification.
Australian label KitX who partnered with the Solomon Islands Pasifik Creations to create a bodice and skirt made from Woolmark-certified wool embellished with trochus shell beads.
Famed designer Karen Walker used a Woolmark-certified wool flannel in a beautiful floor-length dress and global luxury fashion house Burberry used Australian Merino wool to reimagine its signature trench coat and trousers.
"As a company that markets a premium natural fibre, The Woolmark Company is very proud to be supporting this important project," Australian Wool Innovation CEO Stuart McCullough said.
"Australian wool has been cultivated by generations of Australian woolgrowers who care for their sheep and work tirelessly to protect and conserve the extensive pastures on which their flocks graze.”
Mr McCullough said it was important that The Woolmark Company was active in the sustainability arena to clearly demonstrate the eco-credentials of wool.
“By supporting this global initiative, The Woolmark Company is highlighting Merino wool as a natural, renewable and biodegradable fibre to a cross-section of the world's most influential designers - and helping secure validity for Merino's eco-argument from respected experts and ambassadors in the field of sustainability,” he said.