Must Have Winter Woollies

Madeleine Blake

Rugging up against the winter chill can certainly be a fashionable affair. Curate your ideal winter woollen wardrobe with these tips from our leading woollen retailers.

Photo: Model wears Dubarry Bracken Tweed jacket from The Woolshed Australia, Lambswool shawl and beanie from Creswick Woollen Mills. Photography by Journey By Light.

We start by chatting with Boaz Herszfeld, the executive director of Creswick Woollen Mills.

Creswick Woollen Mills is a household name when it comes to woollen products. How long have you been in the wool business? We have been producing gorgeous garments and fabrics from our Creswick-based mill for 75 years. Our products are made from natural fibres including merino wool, possum, alpaca, cashmere, cotton and bamboo. Our fibres are 100% natural, sustainable and eco-friendly. You can still visit us at our historic mill in Creswick, or at our shop on Daylesford’s main street.

What are this season’s must-have winter woollen items? We have so many gorgeous woollen products to choose from. From head to toe, we have you covered for the day. Treat yourself to our merino and cashmere lounge pant, styled with our iconic roll neck sweater. Keep your toes warm with our cosy alpaca wool socks and end the day snuggling under one of our comfy and stylish merino blankets. Q. What are the benefits of wearing wool? There are so many amazing benefits. In addition to feeling soft and luxurious on your skin, wool can absorb up to 35% of its weight before feeling wet. It retains and slowly releases moisture from within its structure which assists in maintaining a higher skin temperature and less rapid cooling. As absorption occurs, wool releases heat, keeping the wearer feeling warmer and drier. It is also odour, wrinkle and stain resistant and is naturally flame retardant because of its high thermal resistance.

Next we head over to Kyneton to chat with Donna Carlson, the owner of The Woolshed Australia, which can be found along historic Piper Street.

Which wool brands do you stock at The Woolshed? At The Woolshed Australia we stock a huge variety of woollen knitwear, outerwear and decor for the home. Some of our most-loved labels include Dubarry of Ireland, who make fine tweed jackets and coats for both ladies and men. Francie of Melbourne is an independent label that crafts women’s knitwear from high-quality natural fibres such as merino, mohair, possum, and alpaca. While NZ label, Untouched World, offers incredibly soft and well-constructed knitwear.

Q. What are this season’s must have woollen items? The best way to keep warm and comfortable this winter is with well-considered layers. The staple item we recommend for our female customers is a woollen knit dress. A long sleeved, high-neck, mid-length knit dress will keep your core warm and can easily be layered with woollen tights and a woollen jacket. The Dubarry women’s Bracken jacket is our best-selling winter investment piece. This zip-up, hip-length jacket comes in five stylish Scottish milled tweed colours. It is a timeless classic designed for warmth and comfort, without compromising on style.

What are your tips for ensuring longevity of your woollen items? Two words - Huon pine. An essential addition to your natural fibre purchase, Huon pine is natural and chemical free, repelling pests that destroy clothing such as moths, fleas, silverfish and mites. When it comes to washing your woollen garments, do so by gently hand washing in tepid water (avoid warm water). As for storage, I recommend storing your natural fibre garments by folding them up and slipping them into a spare cotton pillow case.

The Woolshed Australia thewoolshedaustralia.com Creswick Woollen Mills creswickwool.com

HELCAT Shop 5/116 Main Road, Hepburn Springs @we.are.helcat helcat.com.au/collections/throws-cushions/products/ chooktopia-hot-water-bottle-cover MUST HAVE

At Helcat in Hepburn Springs we proudly support Australian designed and made products - particularly the super sustainable and cosy kind. Chooktopia hot water bottle covers are lovingly made of 100% re-purposed wool blankets and are a musthave this season. And to add a little more warmth, Helcat is offering a free Padre coffee with every instore purchase of these delightful winter essentials during the month of June while stocks last.

CHOOKTOPIA HOT WATER BOTTLE COVERS RRP $49