A specialist wool growers group is building up the international profile of a super-fine wool it produces.
The Saxmere group says demand is growing for wool from the Saxon strain of sheep.
Escorial Ltd is one of the companies that markets the wool to some of the world's leading fabric makers, tailors and retailers.
Managing director Peter Radford says wool from the Saxon sheep is selling for two to three times more than fine merino wool.
He says about 200 - 300 tonnes per year is being sold.
Most of this is supplied by 70 - 80 growers in Australia as there are only about 12 growers left in New Zealand, compared to 70 when the company began.
