Merino Wool Neck Warmers Kohee Made in Tasmania
The Migrant Resource Centre in Launceston together with Launceston based company Breathe Vélo are launching a high quality 100% merino neck warmer called the Kohee (pronounced Coo-eee). The project began life when the Migrant Resource Centre was approached by Breathe Vélo with some left over merino fabric from the production of their range of Tasmanian Made wool cycling bibs/knicks, 100% merino cycling jerseys and wool cycling arm warmers.
Breathe Vélo owners Mark and Mary Ann Munnings are passionate about Tasmanian merino wool and enjoy how well it performs regulating temperature, managing odours and helping contribute to a plastic free world of clothing. They knew about the community sewing group supported by the Migrant Resource Centre and asked if they could help work with the Afghan women in the group, to create an Australian Made product that would help develop the sewing group’s skills and give them experience working with merino fabrics.
Over the past 8 weeks the sewing group have been learning about working with superfine merino fabrics and learning more about how to use their sewing machines. The project aims to raise some extra funds to help support the group as they make their own clothes and clothing for their families. The project aims to further develop the sewing skills of the team and the profits from the sales will raise some funds for the purchase of more materials and some better sewing machines and resources.
The ladies in the group have family members still living in Afghanistan and have struggled with the trauma many of them are experiencing since the Taliban takeover. Despite their struggles and heartache they have worked on this project with enormous positivity and calmness.
We had a few neck warmers that did not make it to the shop due to some learning on the job sewing with superfine merino fabric. Each of the ladies brings their own sewing machine to the group and they each have their own tricks and characteristics to understand.
