Wool Academy with Elisabeth van Delden

#027: IWTO Planet Wool Special

IntroductionFor one episode the Wool Academy podcast is being taken over by Planet Wool - a Podcast by the International Wool Textile Organisation. As this episode is launching on 3 May 2017, the 86th IWTO Congress is taking place in Harrogate, United Kingdom. The IWTO Congress offers 3 full days of excellent wool industry speakers and networking opportunities. Wool Academy is of course also attending the event to secure some more amazing interviews for the podcast.This episode gives all Wool Academy listeners a taste of the IWTO Congress. In 2016, The IWTO Congress took place in Sydney, Australia. All presentations from that event have been recorded and published as the Planet Wool Podcast. In this Wool Academy episode, you can listen to one of these presentations.The speaker is Craig Vanderoef, Senior Director Global Running Apparel and Customization at Adidas. Craig talks about growing the next generation of wool in sports. He particularly talks about how to communicate to the generations called Gen Y and Gen Z. He also points out how retail brands and the wool industry can work closely together to deliver innovative products to these younger consumers.If you want to listen to more presentations, go to Soundcloud.com and search for Planet Wool. A total of 28 great episodes awaits you there. The Planet Wool podcast covers topics such as wool market trends, sustainability, consumer trends, education and retail.

#028: Pedro Otegui about the wool industry in Uruguay

IntroductionPedro Otegui from wool combing mill Lanas Trinidad in Uruguay gives an overview of the Uruguayan wool market in general and introduces his family company Lanas Trinidad. Pedro explains how Lanas Trinidad manages to be self-sufficient in terms of the mill's water and energy consumption always keeping the environment in mind. Lanas Trinidad also complies to many accreditation and licenses and Pedro explains the benefit of the same. Furthermore, Pedro discusses the issues the industry faces as more and more farmers disengage from wool production. In this episode, you will also learn from Pedro what is so special about Uruguayan wool and how farmers are committed to high animal welfare standards.About Pedro OteguiPedro Otegui is the Director at the wool combing company Lanas Trinidad in Uruguay. Lanas Trinidad is the main producer and exporter of combed wool tops in Uruguay. Pedro is the 3rd generation of the Otegui family working in the company which was founded in 1916.

#029: Robert Ryan about the Australian wool industry

IntroductionRobert Ryan holds various leading positions within the Australian Wool industry. In this episode, Robert explains the different activities and roles of the organisations he is leading which gives a great overview of the set up of the Australian wool industry. About Robert RyanRobert Ryan has 40 years of experience in the wool industry. He is the current Chairman of the Federation of Australian Wool Organisations and Member of the Board of Directors of the National Council of Wool Selling Brokers of Australia. In addition to these roles, Robert is also the Managing Director and Chairman of the Board of Schute Bell Badgery Lumby, Woolbrokers and Stock and Station Agents in New South Wales and Queensland. Schute Bell commenced trading in 1906. In June 1996, Robert was elected to the Council of the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW Australia and has held a number of positions on various Committees. He was Chair of the Sheep and Wool Committee from 1999 – 2009 and was elected President of the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW in June 2014. A Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services in the wool industry was awarded to Robert in June 2014.

#030: Ingun Klepp on how consumer research reveals new business opportunities for wool

IntroductionIngun Klepp is a research professor at Consumer Research Norway, an institute at the Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences. Ingun is specialised in consumer research on sustainable textile, clothing, laundry and leisure consumption. In this episode, Ingun talks about the different findings she uncovered when studying wool in relation to consumer behaviour. In particular, Ingun studied the use of wool in beds. Ingun started with the intention to understand why we use cotton as linen instead of wool. At the end of her study, she discovered how consumers use wool in their beds in many unconventional ways. Another research project Ingun shares during the interview is a study on the smell of sports clothing which made wool outperform synthetics. Ingun is also a thought leader on environmental issues related to textiles. In particular, she criticises the focus on waste and recycling. Instead, she encourages us to think about creating better, longer lasting apparel that is of value to the consumer. All of Ingun's research findings help us develop new business ideas for wool products that are of value to the consumer and the planet. About Ingun KleppIngun Klepp works with research on sustainable textile, clothing, laundry and leisure consumption and has written numerous articles and books on these themes. The relationship between textiles, social and physical characteristics and how these are woven together is at the core of her interest and she loves popular dissemination and new methods.

#031: Jonathan Dyson about the growing desire of consumers to know the story behind a product

IntroductionJonathan Dyson, the editor of Twist magazine, shares his views as a journalist on the wool industry. He explains how there is a growing desire for information of which most of that is driven by the consumer. Consumers want to know more about the story behind the product. This has the effect that brands and retailers need to provide the consumer with more information and are therefore looking towards the supply chain to find it. Jonathan also talks about how all natural fibres are heading towards a situation where they need to focus on high-value products. This means consumers need to be made aware of why these products are more expensive and have more value attached.About Jonathan DysonJonathan Dyson joined World Textile Information Network (WTiN) - www.wtin.com - as a staff journalist in 2006, and became editor of Wool Record in 2007, before re-launching the magazine as Twist in 2008. In addition, he was the WTiN head of content from 2009-11. Now in his second spell as Twist editor, Jonathan also edits the WTiN online Natural Fibres & Yarns channel, as well as Knitting International. Jonathan has also worked as a freelance journalist, contributing to The Times, The Observer and The Independent on Sunday, as well as a wide range of global business and sports media.