We all know that there's a worldwide microplastics problem. But did you know that the primary individual source of microplastic pollution is synthetic textiles, at 35%?

Of that 35%, synthetic 'fleece' thermal garments have a disproportionately high shedding rate per wash cycle, because of their loose fibre structure which is intended to trap air, which is much more susceptible to mechanical friction during washing.

The microplastics are shed and enter the wastewater pathway, eventually ending up in the oceans, being eaten by fish and then being eaten by human beings.

It's time to change. We need a natural fibre solution, and we believe that possum fibre can be part of that solution.

When it's blended with another fine fibre like merino, it produces a super soft super warm blend which can be spun into yarn or made into felt.

Because of its super high thermal capacity, we call it 'nature's thermal fibre'.

We're looking for small and medium fibre mills in the USA who already process merino, who would like to try making a possum-merino blend with your own local merino. We've been investigating how to ship possum fibre to the USA by sea post rather than air post, to reduce shipping costs, and the minimum amount that we can send by sea mail is one cubic metre. We've just received approval for our application to be registered exporters of possum fibre, which is exciting, so now our task is to invite expressions of interest from small to medium fibre mills in the USA. Then, we'll be able to begin to calculate how many orders we need in advance of shipping.

If you would like to be a part of our first sea mail shipment of NZ Possum Fibre to the USA, please send an email to our USA representative, Alan Silverstein, alan@nzpossumfibre.com

Thank you so much!

Our possum fibre is:

14-19 microns, a hollow fibre, making it superbly soft and warm.

Staple length 2.5-3.8 cm /1-1.5 inches.

From Taranaki, New Zealand.

Clean and unprocessed.

When carded it will 3x increase in volume.

Recommend blending between 4-30% with merino (or similar fine fibre)

If spinning, spin tightly.

Felting this blend will produce a soft warm felt.

While we wholeheartedly support the concept of 'grow local, buy local', we would be grateful if you would consider making an exception to that rule for the sake of:

• finding a natural fibre method to help the whole world reduce the 'thermal textiles' portion of microplastics
• finding a way to help New Zealand look after our native bush without using metabolic poison (1080)
• eliminating the extreme suffering done to possums and many other animals and birds in the NZ native bush by choosing a poison-free swift-kill approach to reduce suffering.

Imagine having the opportunity to make your own possum-merino blends.... for example a beautifully soft yarn called, "Oregon Merino & New Zealand Possum Fibre".

Possum fibre blends do take dyes well.