The icebreaker way.

Our merino wool stands out from the rest. We ensure the use of the highest-quality merino wool by fostering close relationships with our growers and upholding rigorous care standards for their flock.

A club unlike any other.

Our Growers Club grants our growers the security to continue producing great merino wool through a 10-year partnership. Since 2018, we have prioritised our relationships with our growers by offering 10-year supply contracts. These partnerships enable our growers to care for their sheep and nurture the entire ecosystem.
Currently counting: 70 growers in the Growers Club

“When icebreaker brought the 10-year contracts out, we could see the benefit in the safety margins they gave us.”
Alistair
Earnscleugh Station.

Regenerating for the future today .

icebreaker, in partnership with The New Zealand Merino Company and their ZQrx programme, is a pioneer in regenerative agriculture. The ZQrx programme incorporates regenerative practices across merino farms, benefiting waterways, native species, carbon sequestration, and local communities. 100% of our Growers Club are now part of the programme.

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5 freedoms of our flock.

icebreaker growers go the extra mile for animal welfare, ensuring their commitment extends to their sheep and the sheep dogs working alongside them at the stations.

01
Freedom from hunger or thirst.
Growers ensure their sheep always have access to clean water and adequate nutrition.
02
Where sheep can be sheep.
Sheep are free to roam in open pastures so they can behave naturally.
03
A place to call home.
Growers ensure that their sheep have adequate shade and shelter.
04
Out of harm’s way.
Growers are required to monitor their stock regularly to seek to prevent disease and illness and rapidly diagnose health issues.
05
Freedom from unnecessary pain or distress.
Growers ensure their sheep always have access to clean water and adequate nutrition.
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Only the highest-quality merino.
Merino fibre criteria. We specify fibre length, strength, diameter, consistency, colour, and cleanliness. We even specify our icebreaker ‘style’ of raw fibre to ensure we get the right crimp and structure.
01
Fibre length
We specify maximum and minimum fibre lengths. This has been customized according to the yarns and products icebreaker produces.
02
Fibre strength
Fibre must be strong. Weak fibre will break during processing and wear and can cause fabric flaws.
03
Micron
We specify a maximum and minimum fibre diameter to ensure hand feel and softness.
04
Coefficient of variation
We also specify the maximum variation in fibre diameter to ensure hand feel and softness.
05
Colour
Wool must be very white, with no colour flaws, as this would impact the ability to achieve icebreaker’s colour palette.
06
Vegetable matter
VM can be a problem in processing and lead to contamination and issues with fabric and colour flaws. We specify a maximum VM content (very low).
07
Dark fibres
Dark fibres naturally occur in sheep but can result in colour and fabric flaws. icebreaker specifies very low dark fibre contamination.
08
Wool style
It must be the icebreaker ‘style’ of wool. This relates to crimp and the overall structure of the fleece and fibre and is customized to the yarns and products we create.
09
Absence of flaws
Wool can have many other flaws, so growers always want to remove anything impacting icebreaker product quality.

We specify maximum and minimum fibre lengths. This has been customized according to the yarns and products icebreaker produces.

Fibre must be strong. Weak fibre will break during processing and wear and can cause fabric flaws.

We specify a maximum and minimum fibre diameter to ensure hand feel and softness.

We also specify the maximum variation in fibre diameter to ensure hand feel and softness.

Wool must be very white, with no colour flaws, as this would impact the ability to achieve icebreaker’s colour palette.

VM can be a problem in processing and lead to contamination and issues with fabric and colour flaws. We specify a maximum VM content (very low).

Dark fibres naturally occur in sheep but can result in colour and fabric flaws. icebreaker specifies very low dark fibre contamination.

It must be the icebreaker ‘style’ of wool. This relates to crimp and the overall structure of the fleece and fibre and is customized to the yarns and products we create.

Wool can have many other flaws, so growers always want to remove anything impacting icebreaker product quality.

LEARN ABOUT MERINO

Meet our growers.

A typical icebreaker merino station is about 40,000 acres and supports around 15,000 merino sheep. Our growers are committed to strict animal welfare codes and have appropriate strategies to protect and enhance the natural environment that they work on.
Omarama Station
Choose a station on the map.
Established
1998
Hectacres
12,000
Location
44°S/169°E
Merino Sheep
19,500
Omarama Station
“Living on the farm, it seems so simple to us. We’re super lucky we have that direct connection to the land, and we see it, live it and breathe it every day. ZQRX allows us that authenticity and integrity to show that we’re doing what we say we’re doing. It develops trust.”
Richard and Annabelle Subtil
Omarama Station
Lake Heron Station
Choose a station on the map.
Established
1917
Hectacres
48,500
Location
43°S/171°E
Merino Sheep
11,000
Lake Heron Station
“For us it’s more than just ticking boxes. We absolutely love what we do. The excitement and passion comes from having healthy animals and producing a fiber that we believe in.”
Philip and Anne Todhunter
Lake Heron Station
Middlehurst Station
Choose a station on the map.
Established
1998
Hectacres
16,550
Location
41°S/173°E
Merino Sheep
11,000
Middlehurst Station
“We’ve been in partnership with icebreaker since forever! Since the beginning of the longterm contracts. We’re in it together to ensure the highest quality and welfare of our merino sheep. It’s a transparent, open relationship. We’re on the same page.”
Willie and Susan Macdonald
Middlehurst Station
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