Why Possum?

Why Possum?

• Possums are one of New Zealand’s biggest pests.  There are about 60 million possums in New Zealand. That’s 15 per person, would you like 15 possums in your backyard?

• The Brush-Tail Australian Possum is not a native to New Zealand.  They were introduced in 1837 and since they have no natural enemies in NZ (remember there is only one native mammal – a small bat) the possum numbers are increasing rapidly.  Possums eat trees, and together they ate their way through 20,000 tonnes of vegetation in one night!  Imagine a Super Tanker filled with berries and leaves, and that gives you an idea of what 20,000 tonnes look like.  I thought Kudzu was bad!

Why would you want possum fiber to be part of your yarn?

Lightness and Warmth
Possum fiber is incredibly light and warm due to the hollow nature of possum fibers.  Weight for weight, fabrics made from Zealana yarn are:
55% warmer than 100% merino wool
35% warmer than 100% cashmere
Certified by The University of Otago

Soft to Touch
Possum fiber is soft to touch due to the combination of fiber scale structure and the unique finishing process Zealana yarn goes through.

Low Pill
Possum Fiber has a low pill rate.  It has been proven through independent testing that fabrics made from Zealana yarn have a higher resistance to pilling than other natural fibers.
Certified by The University of Otago

Minimal Prickle Factor
Independent tests have shown that the possum fiber is tapered fiber and is approximately 1 to 2 microns at the tip of the fiber.  This means that the ends of the fiber are well below the threshold of 30 micron, which the CSIRO has shown to cause ‘prickle’ sensation.
Certified by SGS Testing

Good Moisture Absorbency
Zealana fabrics will absorb reasonable quantities of moisture without feeling damp allowing the fiber to buffer the body’s microclimate in changing conditions.
Certified by the University of Otago