How Does the Price of Possum Fur Compare to Other Natural Fibres?
Posted by Team NZNC on 30th Apr 2021
You can go down to The Warehouse or Kmart and get synthetic garments for a really affordable price, but they won’t last like natural fibres will.
At New Zealand Natural Clothing, we only sell sustainable garments made from natural fibres because they are far superior to synthetic fibres.
This blog is all about possum fur and how much it costs compared to other natural fibres.
What is Possum Fur?
Possums are one of the biggest pests in New Zealand. Culling them helps protect the local ecosystem, while using their fibre to make garments provides a practical use for the resource! You can read more about the possum pests here.
Possum is a fabulous fibre because it’s silky, which gives a lovely luxurious feel. It doesn’t freeze, so it's great for those Arctic chills and it’s really light!
We love it because it supports pest management in New Zealand and is odour-resistant. The hollow fibre traps heat making it a wonderful winter wardrobe addition! Here are some of our favourite possum products:
What Is the Cost of Possum Fur?
The processing of fibre is so important. Here is a great video on the processing of the pelts and fibre from Woodville, which is just down the road from here!
Raw possum fibre that hasn’t been treated is NZ $130 per kilogram paid to the gatherer.
It takes between 10 to 20 possums to gather one kilogram of fibre depending on the season and food sources for the pest (often native bird eggs).
At yarn level, the cost really depends on the blend and content.
Our 40% possum, 50% Merino and 10% silk range, for example, is NZ $130 plus GST per kilogram. Lesser possum content blends are around NZ $100 per kilogram spun yarn at manufactured wholesale.
The average possum jersey is 350–500 grams in finished weight.
The possum fibre is collected and then:
- Sold raw
- Treated
- Sold as fibre
- Spun
- Sold as yarn
- Knitted
- Sold as finished goods
- Merchandised
- Sold to the consumer
If you want to learn more about New Zealand’s ecology, visit Basically Bush. They did the video above on processing and offer some great information on ecology.
What Is the Cost of Merino Fibre?
At New Zealand Natural Clothing, we prefer using the 18-20 micron Merino fibre because it wicks better and feels scrumptiously soft on your skin.
Merino helps garments to hang well and is low-allergenic which means even those of us with more sensitive skin should invest in a lovely piece of merino! The cost of merino wool varies according to the micron. 22-micron wool is fine and will cost NZ $45 per kilogram. Spun yarn. 18.5-micron is superfine and can cost up to NZ $70 per kilogram .
Merino is a hit with us and we use it for our base layer garments for warmth. Our favourite merino products at the moment are:
What Is the Cost of Wool-Blend Yarns?
Wool-blend yarns can be more affordable.
There are so many varieties of blends that I could go on forever, but here are a few;
- 40% Possum / 50% Merino / 10% Mulberry Silk
- 20% Possum / 70% Merino / 10% Silk
- 20% Possum / 70% Merino / 10% Nylon
- 30% Possum / 60% merino Lambswool / 10% Mulberry Silk
- Romney Lambswool 100%
- 100% Wool (crossbreed sheep wool)
- 25% Possum Blend / 65% wool / 10% Nylon
They range from $25-$70 per kilogram depending on how much synthetic is used as well as the source and micron count of the wool fibre.
Here are some of our top wool blend products:
We think socks are super and we have a whole range of different socks for all sorts of occasions.
You could have a whole drawer of NZNC socks and have the right pair for everything from work boots to a dinner do.
Sock yarns vary in cost from $30 to $50 per kilogram. They are made from 70% wool and 30% nylon and manufactured in the Norsewood factory.
Here are our favourite socks at the moment;
Natural fibres are always the best way to go if you want real quality.
They do put a bigger dent in your wallet, but in return you are getting a garment that is:
- High quality
- Long-lasting
- Sustainable
Synthetics just don’t give you the luxury that natural fibres can. You can read more about natural fibres and their properties here.
We love a chat about fibres, so pop into the store if you have any questions and we’ll help you choose the right garment for you! Just drop us a line in the chat box.