KEY POINTS:
After a big night out, most men would be happy to throw their best threads into the washing machine and then the tumble drier before their next important appointment.
Thanks to a new fabric being modelled at the Mystery Creek Fieldays, that might be about to come true with drycleaning consigned to the past - and even the future of the electric iron looks a tad shaky.
About three years ago, Crown research institute AgResearch was approached by Australian Wool Innovation to come up with a garment that could help sustain the wool industry.
The result is a prototype suit whose future already looks assured.
Manufacturing mills in China, Japan, Korea, and Mexico are already lining up to produce the garment on a commercial scale, with specially designed rollers being fitted to existing spinning frames. Production trials are also in the pipeline in India.
"The real breakthrough has been coming up with a weave that has a single strand," AgResearch chief executive Andy West said yesterday.
"Normal suits use two yarns woven together and this gives a suit great bulk and also means the fabric is complex. You can't wash it easily like you can other materials."
The suit he was wearing certainly looks the part. Beside its "breathable" properties, the fabric feels like cotton and is a sharp fit.
Mr West said it was also light to wear and its strength meant it could stand up to abrasive treatment.
Only two prototypes had been made for the big unveiling at the Fieldays and, with one being worn around by the boss, that means there is only one spare suit for the catwalk.
Mr West would not specify how much the project had cost to date, although he said it was "less than a $1 million".
The concept and technology has been patented by AgResearch and Australian Wool Innovation, but manufacturing mills were purchasing the "technology transfer".
Mr West said commercial marketing success depended on winning the interest of European designers and fashion houses.
Canesis - a Canterbury organisation bought out by AgResearch in January - has a proven track record in producing woollen threads, having kitted out the Manchester United Football team. "It would be fantastic to be able to suit the All Blacks up in this," Mr West said.
AgResearch and Australian Wool Innovation have also produced a woollen business shirt with similar properties to the suit. Dubbed "Natural Easy Care", the shirts retail for about $200.
Sewed up
* AgResearch exists to benefit the pastoral and biotechnology sectors.
* It is a Crown research institute and has an annual revenue of $145 million; $60 million coming from the Government.
* Development of the single-thread, woollen suit will help revenue but the main beneficiary will be the merino-based Australian wool industry.
* Just 5 per cent of the local wool clip is merino.
