Melbourne, Ermenegildo Zegna has consistently worked to celebrate the importance of wool and incentivize growers to improve the quality of this beautiful and precious, natural fibre.
For the 50 th year, Ermenegildo Zegna has honoured Australia’s best woolgrowers, by awarding the “Superfine Wool Trophy” and the “Vellus Aureum Trophy” during an exclusive gala dinner hosted by Paolo Zegna, Chairman of the Group.
The inherent excellence and unique characteristics of superfine wool allows Ermenegildo Zegna to constantly evolve the beauty and performance of its products. “Ermenegildo Zegna Extrafine Wool Trophy” in 1963 (the oldest wool award in the world), followed by the “Vellus Aureum Trophy” 50 years later, when it was launched in 2002 to recognize the quest for absolute excellence by benchmarking the finest woollen fleeces in the wool production countries that measure 13.9 microns and less.
These competitions are today intended to encourage breeders and reward their commitment to quality, and are open to Australian and New Zealand woolgrowers. The winning fleeces are judged according to a strict set of criteria including fineness, style, strength, colour and evenness.
The 2017 “Superfine Wool Trophy was won by David and Angie Waters (Tarrangower Merinos – Hillgrove, NSW) 2nd were Danny and Megan Picker (Hill Creston Park – Bigga, NSW), and 3rd Philip & Jennifer Carlon (Queenlee – Uralla, NSW).
For the “Vellus Aureum Trophy”, David and Susan Rowbottom (Rowensville – St. Helens, VIC) won the 1st place, Ed and Jill Hundy (Windradeen Mudgee, Pyramul, NSW) won the 2nd place and Ross and Rebecca Blake (Allandale – Walcha, NSW) were awarded the 3rd place.
