Tauranga Based Firm Douglas Creek Shakes Fashion World

Tauranga Based Firm Douglas Creek Shakes Fashion World
A small Bay company is poised to shake up the international fashion industry after producing a revolutionary superfine natural fibre from the winter coat of New Zealand red deer.

The fibre - thinner and smoother than cashmere and called Cervelt - is pitched for use in exclusive clothing worn by some of the world's wealthiest people.

Tauranga-based firm Douglas Creek has spent the past five years perfecting the collection and processing of the down fibre from the coarser outer coat of deer.

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Bay of Plenty manager Lionel Crawley said Douglas Creek's product was unique.

"I'm told that a genuine new fibre like this comes along only once in 50 years.

"They have developed a high-quality, value-added product that is creating a lot of excitement, and they can place themselves at the top end of a competitive global market," Mr Crawley said.

Douglas Creek, an established de-hairing company, is now producing commercial quantities of Cervelt and is making arrangements to supply the strong, lightweight textile to Europe's leading design houses.

Bert McGhee, a director of Douglas Creek, said clothing manufacturers were blown away when the firm took samples overseas late last year.

"They were shocked at how fine it was. We are fielding a lot of interest and we are taking our time choosing