22 March 2010, Sydney - Australian Wool Innovation (AWI), reports that leading Japanese cycling and sports apparel company Pearl Izumi has introduced MerinoPerform into its 60th anniversary cycling jersey range for sale in the USA and Japan. The new range includes MerinoPerform Advantage technology, which Pearl Izumi has used to create high performance garments that enable athletes to perform at their best in hot and cold conditions.

Developed by Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) using up to 19.5 micron Merino wool with a “99% comfort factor”, the MerinoPerform technology has unique natural temperature regulation and vapour management properties that keep athletes cooler, drier and more comfortable when exercising, AWI says.

“The modern and lightweight fabric has a bi-component fabric structure. Fine Merino wool next to the skin has natural breathability and wicks away moisture during exercise, while providing the rider with wind and UPF 50+ sun protection”, says AWI.

“The partnership between AWI and Pearl Izumi is an important milestone for Merino in sportswear. Given Merino’s high performance advantages, it aligns well with the meticulously high standards for which Pearl Izumi is famous,” AWI adds.  Pearl Izumi is a Japanese company with a sales turnover of approximately $200 million across the USA and Japan.

AWI’s global manager sports/outdoor Lars Ulvesund said the expanding sports and activewear market is an area of market growth for Australian Merino wool.

“AWI is working with many of the leading global sports brands such as Pearl Izumi. Marketing, networks, education and of course product development are all areas where we can add value and make a difference,” says Mr Ulvesund.

“Australian Merino is highly regarded and appreciated as a premium natural performance fibre by the sports industry. It continues to be increasingly well represented due to its unrivalled natural breathability, insulation and next-to-skin comfort – it is perfect for keeping you cool when conditions are hot, but it will also keep you warm when the conditions are cold.”

AWI’s MerinoPerform program is partly an evolution of the Sportwool fabric technology (developed in cooperation with CSIRO) and was launched 12 months ago. It is leading AWI’s marketing efforts to get Merino heavily featured in the activewear ranges of the world’s sports and outdoor brands.

AWI says it continues to actively work to promote MerinoPerform and the significant amount of wool seen at the Autumn/Winter 2010/11 fairs in Europe and the United States is proof wool is making steady progress in this growing apparel sector. See what sports brands at these events had to say about wool