Our Fibers
Every Fibre, Chosen with Purpose
At NZ Charly, what a garment is made of is never an afterthought. We believe the fibres next to your skin matter. Where they come from, how they are raised, and who is responsible for them along the way. Every yarn we use is natural, traceable, and chosen because it is genuinely the finest available.
Nothing hidden. Nothing wasted.
The Individual Fibres
ZQ Certified
ZQ Merino
Not all merino is equal. In an industry where "natural fibre" can mean almost anything, certification is everything. Our merino is ZQ certified, supplied by The New Zealand Merino Company, one of the world's most trusted and traceable fibre suppliers.
ZQ certification covers the full supply chain. Animal welfare, land management, and environmental stewardship. It means farms are regularly audited, farmers are fairly supported, and the land is genuinely cared for.
Merino fibres are exceptionally fine. Soft enough to wear directly against the skin, naturally temperature-regulating, odour-resistant, and fully biodegradable. The quiet foundation of most of what we make.
Conservation Fibre
New Zealand Possum Down
Possum down is the fibre that started everything for NZ Charly, and once you understand what it is, it is easy to see why.
The brushtail possum is one of New Zealand's most damaging introduced pests. Brought over from Australia in the 19th century, possum populations now exceed 30 million and consume an estimated 11,000 metric tonnes of native vegetation every 24 hours. Conservation programmes endorsed by New Zealand's Department of Conservation work to protect native trees, birdlife and habitat. The fibre we use is a by-product of those eradication efforts, collected from carefully selected regions and only at certain times of year. All collection adheres to the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards (AIHTS).
What makes possum down remarkable is its hollow core structure, a property it shares with polar bear fur. This means individual fibres trap and retain warmth with extraordinary efficiency, giving you a garment that is simultaneously the lightest and warmest you can wear. The tapered fibre tip (just 1 to 2 microns at its point) bursts to the surface of fabric during finishing, creating a distinctive halo effect and silky softness that only improves with age. It is also naturally pill-resistant and anti-static.
By purchasing possum fibre knitwear you are actively supporting New Zealand's goal of becoming predator free by 2050.
15.2 Micron
Mongolian Cashmere
True cashmere is one of the most coveted natural fibres in the world, and not all cashmere earns that reputation. Quality is measured in microns. The finer the count, the softer and more luxurious the fibre. The finest cashmere comes from regions of extreme temperature fluctuation, where Capra hircus goats develop an exceptionally fine undercoat to survive the cold.
We use 15.2 micron Mongolian cashmere, among the highest grades commercially available, sourced by Woolyarns through long-term relationships with suppliers held to proven ethical standards, then blended carefully at their Wellington mill.
Cashmere insulates without bulk, drapes with effortless fluidity, and becomes measurably softer with every careful wash. It is not a seasonal purchase. It is a garment that rewards you more the longer you wear it.
11 Micron
Mulberry Silk
Silk is the finest natural fibre by weight and one of the strongest. In a blended fabric it adds tensile strength and longevity, creates an incomparable surface luminosity, and amplifies the softness of every fibre it sits alongside.
We use 11 micron Chinese Mulberry silk, the highest grade available. Smoother, stronger, and more uniformly lustrous than any other variety, sourced by the dedicated team at Woolyarns through long-standing trusted partnerships.
The result in a finished garment is a hand-feel that is difficult to describe without wearing it. Cool to the touch initially, then softly, deeply warm. Naturally hypoallergenic and temperature-regulating across a broad range of climates.
Rare Fibre
Bactrian Camel Down
Camel down is one of the rarest and most underappreciated luxury fibres in the world. Sourced from the Bactrian camel of Inner Mongolia and China, the fibre is harvested by hand during the natural moulting season, then carefully de-haired to reveal a luxuriously fine downy undercoat.
This downy undercoat is exceptionally fine and similar in character to cashmere and possum down. It is available in a beautiful deep brownish natural tone and a soft natural ivory. Woolyarns' Kaamera yarn captures this rare material in its purest form, offering a warmth and depth of handle that very few fibres can match.
Camel down creates garments with a distinctive natural richness and a quiet, confident weight that wears beautifully across cool seasons.
Via Woolyarns
Angora
Angora fibre comes from the Angora rabbit and is one of the softest natural fibres available. Its fine, lightweight structure gives finished garments an exceptionally delicate, cloud-like warmth and a characteristic soft halo that is instantly recognisable.
We currently use angora in one yarn blend, sourced through Woolyarns. We believe in being transparent about every fibre we use, and angora is a fibre that deserves careful attention. We have contacted Woolyarns directly to obtain full sourcing and animal welfare documentation for the angora in our yarn, and we will update this page as soon as that information is confirmed.
If you have any questions in the meantime, please reach out to us directly at charly@nzcharly.com.
Sourcing and welfare documentation for this fibre is currently being confirmed with our supplier. This page will be updated upon receipt.
Via DEA Yarns
Cotton
Cotton is the fibre we reach for when warmth gives way to lighter seasons. Breathable, soft against the skin, and naturally moisture-wicking, it provides a completely different wearing experience to our wool and down blends while maintaining the same commitment to quality.
Our cotton is sourced through DEA Yarns, a New Zealand based supplier. Used both as a standalone fibre in our 100% cotton pieces and as a base in select blended yarns, it brings lightness, structure, and versatility to the range.
Via DEA Yarns
Linen
Linen is one of the oldest natural fibres in the world and one of the most sustainable. Made from the flax plant, it requires significantly less water and pesticide than cotton to grow, and improves with every wash, becoming softer and more supple the more it is worn.
We use linen sourced through DEA Yarns in our cotton-linen blend, where it adds a beautiful natural texture, enhanced breathability, and that effortlessly relaxed quality that linen is loved for. It is the ideal warm-weather companion to our wool and down pieces for the rest of the year.
Our Blends
Each blend is carefully considered to let the best qualities of every fibre work together. Warmth, softness, durability, drape and breathability in different proportions for different purposes. This is how we build a garment that genuinely performs.
Merino, Possum and Silk
Everyday luxury. The merino gives this blend its structure and breathability, the possum adds warmth and pill resistance, and the silk lifts the softness and adds a subtle surface sheen. Versatile across seasons.
Merino and Possum
Pure and simple. Equal parts merino and possum down create a warm, pill-resistant, beautifully soft fabric with exceptional insulation. A timeless combination that lets both fibres speak for themselves.
Merino, Angora, Possum and Silk
Four fibres working in harmony to create something exceptionally soft and light. The angora halo, the possum warmth, the merino structure, and the silk luminosity. A truly special blend.
Angora sourcing documentation currently being confirmed. See fibre notes above.Merino, Possum and Nylon
Our most durable everyday blend. The 10% nylon is included for a specific reason: it reinforces the hollow possum fibre under the tension of knitting and extends the long-term wear life of the garment. This is not a compromise. It is precision engineering in service of longevity.
Nylon is the only non-natural component across our range and is used solely for structural performance. All other fibres are 100% natural.
Cashmere, Possum and Silk
The most luxurious blend we offer. Cashmere and possum down are natural partners, each hollow-structured and extraordinarily warm. The silk elevates both with strength and surface brilliance. This is what true luxury knitwear feels like.
Cotton, Possum and Merino
Breathable and light, with just enough possum and merino to add natural temperature regulation and softness. A transitional blend that works beautifully in the shoulder seasons when you need comfort without weight.
Camel Down and Merino
Rare and quietly remarkable. The Bactrian camel down brings natural warmth, depth of colour, and a richness of handle that few fibres can offer. Paired with ZQ merino for structure and wearability, this is a blend for those who appreciate the exceptional.
100% Cotton
Pure, simple, and effortlessly wearable. Our 100% cotton pieces offer complete breathability and a clean, relaxed hand-feel for warmer days and layering. Nothing added. Nothing needed.
Cotton and Linen
The ideal warm weather combination. Cotton's softness and moisture-wicking meets linen's natural texture and breathability. Gets better with every wash. Effortlessly relaxed and completely natural.