Sue Boot with a range of pom-pom scarves, Peter Pan collars and coloured cushions made from possum fur.
Sue Boot with a range of pom-pom scarves, Peter Pan collars and coloured cushions made from possum fur.
The Untamed label - specialising in possum fur and leather - is set to be launched in a factory shop at 2 Fox St, Woodville, on Saturday.
The brainchild of Basically Bush owners Sue and Steve Boot, the products are made from the brushtail possum and range from cushions toleather hats, which are tanned in Woodville.
"I think these are absolutely awesome," said Ms Boot.
The only domestic market supplier with the biggest agency network of possum fur buyers in New Zealand, Basically Bush buys from product all over the country.
"We buy possum fibre harvested from about one million possums," she said.
"We process about 35,000 possum pelts into fur skins."
The throw is made from 45 possum skins and (at front) possum scarves.
The fur fibre (about 45T annually) is checked for quality at the factory in Woodville and most is sent to a yarn manufacturer (Woolyarns) in Lower Hutt.
The possum merino yarn produced by Woolyarns is sold to domestic knitting companies who make jerseys, cardigans, hats and socks from a possum fur-merino blend.
If it was not for the advent of the possum merino yarn most Kiwi knitters would have gone out of business.
"Warmth without weight is the advantage of possum fur - it's a very smart product," says Ms Boot.
When first developed in 1999, it was the first new natural yarn in 100 years.
At present, the shop will not be stocking knitwear (the company does not make knitwear).
Tanned fur skins are exported to Germany and Italy from the tannery, which is one of a kind nationally, being set up specifically for possum.
Established in 1976 in Woodville by Italians, the tannery was based on the mink industry, with all the equipment being brought from Italy with technicians.
At one stage, 24 staff were employed (six now) with all product sent to Italy.
With the signs going up soon, many people are expected to stop in Woodville to see the factory shop.
