Full transparency might be a pipe dream for many brands and organisations, but Australian fashion label Albus Lumen has taken a step in the right direction. Partnering with The Woolmark Company, designer Marina Afonina connected with one of Australia’s most historic wool-growing properties ‘Anlaby’ to produce a travel collection made of single-origin Australian Merino wool.
Full transparency might be a pipe dream for many brands and organisations, but Australian fashion label Albus Lumen has taken a step in the right direction. Partnering with The Woolmark Company, designer Marina Afonina connected with one of Australia’s most historic wool-growing properties ‘Anlaby’ to produce a travel collection made of single-origin Australian Merino wool.
Albus Lumen Founder/Designer Marina Afonina fell in love with the natural, renewable and biodegradable fibre as she created her ‘Pura Interna’ collection as part of the 2019 International Woolmark Prize final. Wanting to continue her journey with the fibre and following a visit to Anlaby Station in South Australia, Afonina selected 19 micron wool directly from the farm for the Albus Lumen Resort 19 Peru Travel Capsule, which includes a jumper, 3/4 sleeve T-shirt, leisure pants, poncho, shawl and eye mask.
Each garment contains an interactive NFC chip, allowing consumers to tap their phone on the garment’s care label to discover the story behind the product, from sheep to shop, offering traceability in the supply chain.
“Being exposed to Anlaby Station has been amazing. For us to support this industry in Australia is the main thing, and being a finalist for the International Woolmark Prize gave so many opportunities and exposure to people like Anlaby, which brought us here to be part of this beautiful journey. Wool in general is perfect for travel. It keeps you warm in the cold but also keeps you cool in heat and it’s resistant to odour and creases. For us, using wool in the travel capacity is a natural progression and wool is a perfect fabric for that. I also think traceability is so important. People want to know more these days and respect the knowledge of where they buy a product and where the product is made.” - Marina Afonina
“Traceability is so important. People want to know more these days and respect the knowledge of where they buy a product and where the product is made.”
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Marina Afonina
A heritage steeped in tradition, Anlaby Station is the oldest continuing Merino sheep stud on mainland Australia and exported South Australia’s first bale of wool. Celebrating its 180th anniversary this year, Anlaby Station will open its doors to the public as part of its annual Open Gardens weekend which will also unveil Albus Lumen’s traceable travel collection and host an exhibition dedicated to the International Woolmark Prize.
“We met Marina in 2017 when The Woolmark Company brought a group of designers here to Anlaby Station and we found there was compatibility in what both our businesses are striving for. Marina is meticulous in detail and really interested in natural fibres and we love the integrity of Albus Lumen. She’s a wonderful example of a designer who can take a wonderful fibre and make so much more of it with good design and integrity. We have our own brand, but the fact that somebody else is interested enough to want to source our product and do their own thing with it is humbling and also helps us have faith that we’re doing the right thing. The fact that we get to collaborate is remarkable and we feel really honoured.” - Anlaby Station co-owner Andrew Morphett
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