New Zealand’s Icebreaker Nature Clothing recently made the largest purchase of merino wool for apparel in the country’s history.

The three-year contract, worth $30 million and totalling more than two million kilogrammes, is at a 30% premium to the current market price. This is sufficient merino to produce over one million garments per year, to meet the rapidly growing demand for Icebreaker apparel.

CEO of The New Zealand Merino Company, John Brakenridge, commented: "From some of New Zealand's most inhospitable and wild country we are developing a product that's changing the way the world sees outdoor clothing. Icebreaker should be applauded for continuing to set the pace in developing this most exciting market."

The contract has also been welcomed by high country farmers. "It's tremendous news for the industry," said Steve Satterthwaite of Muller Station, Marlborough. Steve is one of the farmers contracted to supply Icebreaker and will sell 20,000 kilogrammes of merino wool to Icebreaker for each of the next three years, up from 17,000 kilogrammes per year over the past three years.

Icebreaker apparel is sold in 1,500 stores in 20 countries.