RM Williams and Waverly Mills launch Australian made picnic blanket






Outback outfitter R.M.Williams has extended its range of Australian made products, launching picnic blankets manufactured by Tasmania’s Waverly Mills.

The Adelaide company, which is best known for its locally made boots and leather goods, said: “As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting and nurturing Australian craftsmanship, we’re partnering with leading artisans and creators around the nation on a range of products inspired by outdoor living.

“Our new Picnic Blanket was crafted in collaboration with Waverly Mills, Australia’s oldest textile mill.

“The Launceston-based business was a natural fit for this project, with values of respect for people and planet at the core of everything they do.

“They’re dedicated to the preservation and growth of onshore manufacturing in Australia, with their time-honoured production processes serving as a showcase of homegrown excellence.”

R.M.Williams, owned by iron ore magnate Andrew Forrest, sources most of its clothing such as shirts from overseas suppliers, but under Forrest’s ownership had pledged to extend its range of Australian made goods.

The company operates luxury boutiques in major cities around the world, with Waverly Mills standing to benefit from its new found global exposure.

R.M.Williams Executive Director David Dickson Farley said: “Both Waverly Mills and R.M.Williams share great aspirations for the future of Australian regional manufacturing, career development and ongoing career security for future generations of artisans.

“We’re driving in the same direction with our commitments to circularity and Australian-made products; – it’s been a perfect alignment of values.”

Farley said the retailers ‘collaborative woollen Picnic Blanket’ embodied this spirit of conscious craftsmanship, carefully woven in a unique, ‘one-off’ design using upcycled yarn that was diverted from landfill.

“With an enduring quality that has the potential to span decades, it’s set to become a collector’s item, passed down through families for adventures yet to come.”

Picture: R.M.Williams



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