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Fibre2Fashion
Published
Apr 7, 2016
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‘M&S is the largest UK retailer in wool usage’

By
Fibre2Fashion
Published
Apr 7, 2016

Marks & Spencer (M&S), the major UK-based multinational retailer with more than 850 stores across the country, is by far the largest UK retailer in terms of wool usage, according to Marc Bolland, CEO of M&S.



In the UK, the company has a 9.0 per cent share of the womenswear market and 10.8 per cent share of the menswear market, with a significant amount of the apparel being made from wool.

In 2014-15, the company used 1.5 million metres of wool or wool blend cloth, which is forecast to rise to 1.7 million metres in 2015-16. In 2014-15, it sold 1 million units of wool or wool blend knitwear.

“Wool remains very important across our clothing lines. In menswear, we use wool for our coats, suits and knitwear, and we will see more and more wool use in womenswear,” Marc said. “M&S focuses on quality, and so Merino wool has long been a key fibre within their menswear and womenswear collections.”

“Wool is well-known in the UK as a cold season fibre, but there is opportunity for retailers to sell Merino wool apparel much more in the spring and summer seasons,” he added.

M&S has started leveraging their Cool Wool sub-brand to effectively stimulate sales during the warmer seasons, emphasising the natural breathability and thermo-regulating properties of lightweight Merino wool products.

For the Spring/Summer 2016 season, M&S will run another Cool Wool promotion across menswear and womenswear.

The Woolmark Company has worked in collaboration with M&S for several years to help promote the use of Merino wool in its ranges. The company supports M&S on product development, sourcing and marketing to help raise awareness amongst its customers on what wool can offer in terms of natural benefits and value.

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