Recently I was in New Zealand for work. A place that used to be known for sheep and wool as prominently as Scotland. I've been wanting to get more wool clothing because nothing compares to it. It keeps you cool on warm days, keeps you warm on cold days, keeps you dry, and is durable. Getting real wool is expensive these days! Like over $100 a thin shirt expensive. I remember when this stuff was available at Army & Navy for $20! - Let's not discuss age here :P
So I figured I would find reasonably prices New Zealand wool when I was there - Nope!
The market is flooded with cheap plastic clothing. Wool is now an upper class trendy thing and hard to find. You have Merino this and merino that, with ridiculous price tags. Meanwhile the "active" clothing that's supposed to have replaced wool is cheap and not even close in performance.
One of the last places I was able to find affordable wool was a surplus store. Old, new stock military issue wool was still affordable, at $30-50 a shirt. Only negative is you had the limited choice of colour, either green, blue, or green ....or blue.
I talked to the owners of the store, they are closing because lack of business and cost of operations. Sadly the general public is happy with the cheap plastic. They dictate the market by buying what is available. If they stopped and demanded better, the market would change. But the reality is that most people live in the cities and don't need the same quality and durability from their attire. After all, you and I see and experience more outdoors in a week than most city people in a year.
At this rate, we might have to spin our own wool and make our own clothes if we want anything good.
You sure have your head screwed on right. Appreciate your content. 'Lumberjack-chic' looks good on you!
Recently I was in New Zealand for work. A place that used to be known for sheep and wool as prominently as Scotland. I've been wanting to get more wool clothing because nothing compares to it. It keeps you cool on warm days, keeps you warm on cold days, keeps you dry, and is durable. Getting real wool is expensive these days! Like over $100 a thin shirt expensive. I remember when this stuff was available at Army & Navy for $20! - Let's not discuss age here :P
So I figured I would find reasonably prices New Zealand wool when I was there - Nope!
The market is flooded with cheap plastic clothing. Wool is now an upper class trendy thing and hard to find. You have Merino this and merino that, with ridiculous price tags. Meanwhile the "active" clothing that's supposed to have replaced wool is cheap and not even close in performance.
One of the last places I was able to find affordable wool was a surplus store. Old, new stock military issue wool was still affordable, at $30-50 a shirt. Only negative is you had the limited choice of colour, either green, blue, or green ....or blue.
I talked to the owners of the store, they are closing because lack of business and cost of operations. Sadly the general public is happy with the cheap plastic. They dictate the market by buying what is available. If they stopped and demanded better, the market would change. But the reality is that most people live in the cities and don't need the same quality and durability from their attire. After all, you and I see and experience more outdoors in a week than most city people in a year.
At this rate, we might have to spin our own wool and make our own clothes if we want anything good.
Cheers!