THOM BROWNE ENTERS TWO-SEASON PARTNERSHIP WITH WOOLMARK

The Woolmark Company has announced a two-season partnership with American fashion designer Thom Browne, making him the first U.S. designer to use Cool Wool-certified garments in a commercially available collection. Known for his signature stripes and cropped tailored pants, Browne will include a selection of Australian Merino wool items in his upcoming menswear collections for spring/summer 2016 and fall/winter 2016/2017.

For the Thom Browne spring/summer 2016 range, which will launch globally in January 2016, Browne will unveil a combination of Woolmark and Cool Wool-certified items including Merino wool suits, shorts and knitwear. A selection of wool scarves, shoes, ties and bags will also be available.

“Wool has long been an essential element of my collection and this partnership with The Woolmark Company allows me to further explore the possibilities and boundless potential of the fiber,” said Browne in a statement. “We’re using more wool in our spring collections each year and its natural benefits such as breathability and shape retention mean it is perfect for lightweight suiting.”

A series of short films and quirky images titled ‘The Thom Browne Laboratory’ will also be released across social media, celebrating the launch of these exclusively created Merino wool pieces. “Browne’s sharp tailoring often references the early 1960s, yet his innovative design and craftsmanship brings the suit firmly into the 21st century,” said The Woolmark Company managing director Stuart McCullough. “The two upcoming Merino wool collections will demonstrate the fiber’s beauty and versatility to consumers across the world as the perfect, all year round, fiber for fashion.”