A group of second year AUT Industrial Design students presented the outcomes of their Shear Wool paper in a pop up exhibition in Te Wai Ngutu Kākā Gallery.
Now in its fourth year, the paper centres on the use of strong wool in new product designs. Traditionally used in carpets, rugs, and upholstery, strong wool makes up 80 percent of New Zealand’s total wool clip. But at present, the cost of shearing and processing strong wool is higher than its market value. The students’ work demonstrates the fantastic potential this material holds across a wide range of applications and disciplines. Industry experts from along the supply chain, including Woolworks, Lisa Portas, Autex Acoustics, Wisewool, Maxwell Rodgers, Fleecegrow, Bremworth, and Rubisco, partnered with RAU to deliver the paper.
The student projects were well received by the public and industry representatives, who noted the breadth of applications and the many innovative uses of strong wool as a material.