Designer Blythe Rees-Jones of Locus Research Ltd has been selected to represent the New Zealand Merino industry on the international stage. He has been confirmed as one of two recipients of the 2009 Biella Merino Ambassador scholarship.
The award provides a chance of looking at the broad application of merino fibre in new design and value-added applications. As part of the scholarship, Blythe and co-recipient Richard Gloag will be travelling to Italy and other areas over a three week period to study the merino supply chain. The scholarship is funded by both Meat & Wool New Zealand and Merino Inc and is organised by Merino Inc and The New Zealand Merino Company. Blythe states that "this exciting opportunity will further my understanding of the supply chain involved in the production of value added Merino products". He anticipates that the opportunity will offer a unique insight into the lifecycle of merino products. He hopes that the knowledge gained from the industry will also help to better position himself as an Industrial Designer that can participate in influencing the role that merino might play in existing and new export markets in the future.
Blythe works for Locus Research Ltd in Mt Maunganui, a product development company with a unique research driven approach. Blythe's selection follows on from development projects he has been undertaking within the broader textiles sector. In 2006-07 he helped to formulate and run the Transform Initiative for Textiles New Zealand; a project established to provide a robust framework to support and enhance the development of innovative export oriented products for the carpet, footwear, textile and apparel sectors within New Zealand. Currently he is working to develop new non-invasive medical and sporting based product technologies for a range of textile and apparel companies and their collaborative partners. Merino fibre offers many technical and therapeutic benefits in these applications, and the projects represent exciting opportunities to introduce a natural fibre into markets that predominately have a synthetic focus.
Blythe will be writing about his experiences over the course of the study trip and on his return online at http://blog.locusresearch.com
Contact: Timothy Allan - Principal Ph: 07 5715007 ext 702, 027 240 5781
