Wools of New Zealand to launch Sustainable Brand

-- Home Textiles Today, 11/23/2009 12:00:00 AM

Marietta, Ga. —

Wools of New Zealand’s new Laneve fiber brand for sustainable rugs and carpets is set to launch in January during the Surfaces show in Las Vegas.

WONZ is debuting the new brand in partnership with 17 manufacturers and importers who the company described as “committed to sustainable excellence and the traceability of Laneve brand wool from farm through to the finished product.” They include Bellbridge, Bloomsburg, CH Designs, Creative Accents, Decorative Carpets, Fabrica, Glen Eden, J. Mish, Luzern, Masland, Prestige, Rodeo, Saxony, Silver Creek, Tisca Tiara, Weavetuft and Woolshire.

Laneve soft flooring products will be cobranded with Wools of New Zealand. The brand provides accreditation that encompasses farming practices, animal welfare, sustainability, traceability, and environmental standards as well as quality and performance of the product.

Laneve’s launch is also the starting point for other new initiatives will be launched at the Surfaces 2010 show. Those include new training programs and point-of-sales tools, several CEU and training seminars, and new marketing brochures and materials — all to be made available to retailers.

Wools of New Zealand will also highlight the creativity of all 20 of its exhibiting customers participating in its Fashion Dynamics competition. Retailers can vote in the categories of “Best Laneve Brand product/color line” and “Best Wools of New Zealand Brand product/color line.” Awards will be presented at a press event held during the end of the second day of the show.

Also at Surface but outside of its booth, WONZ will be sponsor two CEU accredited seminars for interior designers. Wes Connelly, technical consultant, and Joanna Ramsden, Creative Manager, both of Wools of New Zealand, are presenting the “Wool Education & Color Trends” seminar for interior designers at 8 a.m. on Feb. 4. The company is also sponsoring Deborah Burnett, a health and wellness design authority, who will be hosting a three-hour CEU course for interior designers on Feb. 1.