Bond-eye, Maxxam and Woolmark launch 45/45/10 wool-blend swimwear fabric
Bond-eye, Maxxam and Woolmark have launched a swimwear fabric made of 45% Australian Merino wool, 45% Tencel and 10% elastane. The fabric debuts as part of a 26‑piece collection designed to cut reliance on nylon and polyester.
The material resulted from a two‑year collaborative development process assisted by a specialist Italian knitting mill. It builds on Bond‑eye’s ten‑year partnership with Rosemary Moore, the founder of Maxxam, who first introduced tubular crinkle fabric over four decades ago. Woolmark subjected the fabric to strict performance testing to ensure colourfastness in chlorinated pool water and seawater. The four‑way stretch construction lets garments adjust to sizes from extra‑small to large without losing shape or luxurious feel. The blend uses wool’s natural elasticity, temperature regulation and moisture‑managing abilities to provide a soft, breathable feel suitable for active swimwear.
“The challenge was not simply to introduce wool into swimwear, but to develop a fabrication that could meet the category’s technical demands without compromising the qualities that make Merino wool distinctive,” Bryan Fry, managing director of Woolmark said.
“It’s exciting to use wool because of its natural elasticity and recovery, as well as its moisture‑wicking and temperature‑regulating properties—we wanted to explore how those qualities could translate into swimwear,” Mim Goode, Bond-eye designer said.
Bond-eye has worked with Rosemary Moore for more than a decade on tubular crinkle fabric, which Moore originally invented over forty years ago. Maxxam, founded by Moore, continues to develop the crinkle technology while Woolmark provides certification and technical support for natural‑fiber innovations.
What we know
45% Australian Merino wool
45% Tencel
10% elastane
26-piece collection
two-year collaborative development process