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The August edition of the International Wool Textile Organisation’s (IWTO) monthly wool policy report consisted of a dynamic mix of global wool industry news.
Merino wool in the top ranks on the sporting stage
Tennis legend Venus Williams made a striking return to the US Open in a Merino wool performance kit designed by fashion label LUAR in collaboration with The Woolmark Company. The partnership blends high fashion with elite sport, showcasing the natural fibre’s versatility on one of tennis’s biggest stages.
The kit, developed with Woolmark-certified supply chain partners, consisted of a black wool-rich mesh dress with a track jacket for on-court play, and a beige two-piece knit set for off-court appearances. Accessories such as a wool messenger bag, hat, and scrunchie completed the look.
“Wool’s natural performance qualities make it ideal for athletes, while its elegance translates seamlessly into fashion,” said LUAR designer Raul Lopez. Woolmark’s managing director, John Roberts, added, “Seeing Venus bring this outfit to life proves Merino wool doesn’t just belong in performance wear — it excels in it.”
Read more about Arbour week.
Regenerative initiative expands in fashion
Two fashion powerhouses, Zara and Kering, have lowered the minimum commitment for companies to back NGO Conservation International in the Regenerative Fund for Nature.
Zara is a brand owned by the Spanish company Inditex, and Kering is a French luxury conglomerate. Besides focussing on restoring soil health, biodiversity, and climate resilience, while improving rural livelihoods, targeting key materials for the fashion sector, including cotton, wool, leather and cashmere, the project remains focussed on scaling up regenerative practices in fashion’s global supply chain, making more sustainable clothing a market norm.
From wool week to wool month
Championing wool as nature’s smartest fibre, the globally recognised initiative, Campaign for Wool, will be celebrating its 15th anniversary in October this year. The October programme will include a plea to the public to make informed choices and opt for wool, one of nature’s most innovative, sustainable and planet-friendly fibres, over synthetic alternatives.
“As we mark this milestone, our mission remains more relevant than ever,” said Peter Ackroyd, Campaign for Wool chairperson. “Wool is not only natural, renewable, and biodegradable, but the simple act of buying wool products is also one of the easiest things we can do to help the planet.”
Microfibre pollution tackled
The United States has introduced the Fighting Fibers Act of 2025 to combat microfibre pollution, which targets textiles as the single largest known source of microplastic pollution in the ocean. While not yet law, the Fighting Fibers Act of 2025 signals growing political attention to microplastic pollution from synthetic textiles and the proposed legislation will, among others, require filtration systems in all new washing machines to capture microfibres and mandate research into the impacts of microfibre pollution.
The reality of textile recycling rates:
As the European Union (EU) prepares to implement mandatory separate textile collection in 2025, new research is revealing significant challenges in achieving meaningful textile recycling rates. A recent study conducted in Copenhagen found thatonly 2% of Danish textiles are suitable for recyclinginto high-quality fibres.
The UK is pioneering practical solutions through theAutosort for Circular Textiles Demonstrator (ACT UK) project, which has developed a blueprint for automated textile sorting and pre-processing facilities featuring near-infrared spectroscopy and machine learning.
At the same time, citizen trials in the United Kingdom (UK) revealed mixed results regarding the public’s capability to sort textiles accurately before collection, despite demonstrating an increased willingness to recycle and potential to divert textiles from landfills.
Italian regulators impose major fines
The Italian Competition Authority has issued significant penalties to two major fashion companies, highlighting growing regulatory scrutiny across the industry.
Shein was fined €1 million for misleading sustainability claims on its website, including false statements about circular system design, product recyclability, and the sustainability credentials of its “evoluShein by Design” collection. The regulator found that Shein’s climate commitments to reduce emissions by 25% by 2030 were contradicted by actual increases in emissions in 2023 and 2024.
In another incident,Giorgio Armani received a €3,5 million fine for misleading ethical and social responsibility statementsthat contradicted actual working conditions at suppliers and subcontractors. This case is part of the broader turmoil in Italy’s luxury fashion supply chain.
FMD in Europe
The UK has imposed significant import restrictions on various animal products from Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, and parts of Germany due to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) concerns. Restricted imports include live ruminants and pigs, their germplasm, fresh/frozen meat, untreated meat products, and certain milk and animal by-products.
While the UK follows automatic regionalisation within the EU (allowing imports from non-outbreak zones), Germany’s complete loss of FMD-free status has resulted in the widespread suspension of animal product imports from all German territories. Specific heat treatments (D1) are required for certain meat products to reduce risk, and personal imports of meat and dairy products face restrictions.
Since 7 March 2025, all imports of live ungulates and FMD-susceptible species from Hungary have been suspended. Similar restrictions for Slovakia are under review, while Austria has implemented additional pre-notification and border control measures to mitigate biosecurity risks. – IWTO report curated by Plaas Media
