PROMINENT Italian textile processor Reda and clothing company Loro Piana have penned an open letter to Australian Wool Innovation chair Colette Garnsey to tell her that the movement to non-mulesed/ceased mulesed wool sourcing is massive and increasing annually. Theirs is the second letter this month contesting Ms Garnsey’s statement that the “push” to non-mulesed wool is driven by two European fashion houses.
Open Letter
In reference to comments attributed to the AWI chair in the Sheep Central article titled “AWI leader Garnsey’s view on non-mulesed wool demand rejected” by Terry Sim, 20 April, 2020.
Ms Colette Garnsey
Chairperson,
Australian Wool Innovation
April 30, 2020
Dear Ms Garnsey,
We are living in a very unique moment. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world and its impact in the global economy will bring new challenges. Topics like sustainability, digital transformation and transparent communication will have an acceleration.
After we read your statements where you informed the Australian wool growers that non-mulesed wool demand was driven by only a few European fashion houses and not by garment customers, we felt the need and the responsibility to comment on your statements for the benefit and transparency of our wool industry.
We have been working directly with the Australian wool growers for many years. We respect them and for this reason we want to share our view about this issue.
We have always put our suppliers, our workers and our customers at the centre of our decision-making process and it is our duty to look after them, to be honest and transparent, and to work alongside them. Having said that, we would like to express our thoughts on the non-mulesing requests coming from the market.
You claimed that AWI is non-political, but you clearly have a strong opinion on mulesing, having commented that AWI continued to defend mulesing when talking to fashion houses. It seems that AWI is not recognizing the hard work made by those growers who have moved away from mulesing through great efforts and sacrifice.
The importance of sustainability needs to be recognized and explained to the wool growers, allowing them to have all the necessary information to decide whether or not to embrace it.
AWI has the responsibility to pass to its stakeholders all relevant information coming from the market. It should not be perceived as a political statement rather it should allow growers to make an informed decision on their farm practices and how it might influence the marketing of their wool.
The number of customers who are asking for non-mulesed/ceased mulesed (NM/CM) wool is increasing year upon year. We should listen to what the final consumers want, understand their needs and try to meet their requirements as much as possible. We can reassure you that this trend started more than 10 years ago and now it has transformed into a massive movement.
As leader of AWI, you should lead this change and listen to the customers’ needs and requests. Many Australian growers have already opened their eyes. They are thirsty for information about what is happening in the rest of the world, the trends and changes in demand.
We are not wishing to dictate to growers what to do. We have far too much respect for them to do that. We are sharing our vision and where we see the future of this beautiful fibre. We are not here to judge anyone, but we feel the need to voice the opinion of many.
It is difficult, but not impossible to keep wool producers fully informed and the premiums in the marketplace are real and measurable. These premiums are a direct result of the extra demand coming from customers requiring sustainable wool.
After this global emergency, consumers will be even more careful, conscientious and discerning when choosing the products they will buy. They will have less spending power and they will select the product with the strongest value proposition and sustainability will continue to trend as one of the major purchasing criteria.
Once again, it is the wool growers’ decision whether to embrace sustainability and animal welfare issues or not. It is, however, our duty to inform them and share with them the markets’ and customers’ requests and we will continue to do that through the relationship networks we have with the Australian wool growers.
Most importantly, it is your responsibility to keep them aware of the many changes that, in this bizarre and unique moment, have simply been accelerated.
Kind Regards,
Francesco Botto Poala (Reda, Italy – chief of operations)
Emanuela Carletti (Loro Piana, Italy – raw material purchasing manager)
It appears the ghosts of the Merino stud breeders still haunt AWI.
“The number of customers who are asking for non-mulesed/ceased mulesed (NM/CM) wool is increasing year upon year. We should listen to what the final consumers want, understand their needs and try to meet their requirements as much as possible”.
Yes, that is what they are getting in larger quantities, year upon year – namely non-mulesed wool.
Andrew, you have summed this up: give the market the product it wants. Gradually, the amount of suitable wool is increasing, while getting no assistance from AWI. AWI collects the levy and they use it to promote the sheep of yesterday. That is the reason for unrest from a growing group of levy payers.
Could Sheep Central please give the mulesing story a rest? If it wasn’t for your support for the holier-than-thou plain-bodied vocal minority, this endless rambling would hopefully stop. Let the market sort out who muleses and who doesn’t.
So you want to silence us, John? Censor our open discussion, John? The ghosts of AWI have yet to be buried.
John, why are you belting Sheep Central, they are only reporting on what is sent in? I would love you to send in an opinion piece on why you want to keep mulesing. The retailers and brands are really struggling just to stay afloat. Why are you wanting the trade to swim on its own? As wool growers, we need to help them in every possible way.
I presume you would like to keep mulesing. I am trying to understand why people don’t want to change. Can you tell me why that is? Is it being part of a tribe? Would you like to stop mulesing? You of all people understand market forces and human psyche.
People that have driven a Holden car all their lives, they go to Bathurst and cheer on Holdens. If they want a new car now, they have to change or catch a horse. Can you please explain to the readers why you would like to keep doing what you are doing? I apologise if you have stopped mulesing, or are about to.
It is hard to believe that promotion is one of the roles of AWI. This article tells it as it is, the market is looking for more wool from unmulesed sheep.
AWI collect the levy and then ignore the basics. How long can the Australian sheep producer put up with such an organisation? Frankly, time is running out.
As a commercial wool grower, way down the pecking order, I appreciate the truth. The self-interest, politics, and smoke and mirrors that is going on with our peak body… Emanuela Carletti, I thank you for the truth and don’t ever hesitate to tell us wool growers what you would like. We need to know.
They seem worried about activists and vegans splashing photos of mulesing around. Are they not worried about photos of badly flystruck sheep, or chemical residue?
As for being taught how to farm sustainability by someone in Europe. I say, if you pay enough, that’s sustainable. If you pay below the cost of production that’s not. And if we had European subsidies, then all the virtue signalling becomes sustainable. My virtue is going to cost you.
Glenn, please try to understand Emanuela, for she knows her subject, whereas, with respect, you appear to have the cart before the horse.