About Myself
I suppose that for me, although I have an extensive textile heritage, it was not until I implemented and achieved the ISO 9001 accreditation for my family's weaving mill that I became interested in the possibilities of combining my love for natural fibre with design for everyday living into finished products primarily for the home. My professional career up till then was in commercial and company law and so when I changed my career path, I had fresh ideas on how a blanket or throw can be designed, using different weave structures to create three-dimensionality and to use different fibre blends and effect yarns.
I always aspire to design beautiful fabrics that have a point of difference and I think the various collections do achieve that. From the initial concept there is a complex and lengthy process to go through to create a prototype, so I need a lot of patience and vision.
I use natural fibres as the basis for constructing these fabrics for use in the home, in natural colourings rather like New Zealand's fleece colours, and draw inspiration from New Zealand’s forests and farmlands for the weaves and textures I create.
All our products are 100% New Zealand made and once the fabrics come from either the weaver or the knitter, I co-ordinate the conversion of the fabric into individual blankets and throws. The product is then finished and goes on finally to quality control.
I invite you to meet the people who make Pelage happen ...
I always aspire to design beautiful fabrics that have a point of difference and I think the various collections do achieve that. From the initial concept there is a complex and lengthy process to go through to create a prototype, so I need a lot of patience and vision.
I use natural fibres as the basis for constructing these fabrics for use in the home, in natural colourings rather like New Zealand's fleece colours, and draw inspiration from New Zealand’s forests and farmlands for the weaves and textures I create.
All our products are 100% New Zealand made and once the fabrics come from either the weaver or the knitter, I co-ordinate the conversion of the fabric into individual blankets and throws. The product is then finished and goes on finally to quality control.
I invite you to meet the people who make Pelage happen ...
Family Heritage
Colin Wood was born in Linthwaite, Holmfirth, Yorkshire in 1907. His grandfather and great uncle had founded their own Green Lane Mill in the early 1880s and Colin was apprenticed as a carding engineer to the local Washpit Woollen Mill at the age of 13.
He completed his apprenticeship eight years later and in 1931, at 24, he was the new manager of carding at the Oamaru Woollen Mills in New Zealand. In 1939 he moved to Wellington with his wife and children and, with a partner, formed Wellwood Ltd 1946. Colin bought his partner out in 1953 and changed the company name to Woollen Industries Ltd which was later to become Woolyarns Ltd, as it is today.
Eldest son Peter was apprentice engineer and joined his father fulltime in 1959.
Peter Wood is first of all the father of Tracy and Founder of Pelage. He is the one that makes sure that Pelage gets its high quality yarns for our products.
Peter is an entrenched Wellingtonian with a passion for Steam trains, Forestry and of course big spinning machines. Even though he is the director of Woolyarns Ltd, you won't find him in his office behind huge piles of paper.
Peter is a passionate textiles engineer and a very hard worker who loves spending time with his workers. Eighty percent of the day he is somewhere between yarn, steel and oil, crawling in and out of machines.
Peter is an entrenched Wellingtonian with a passion for Steam trains, Forestry and of course big spinning machines. Even though he is the director of Woolyarns Ltd, you won't find him in his office behind huge piles of paper.
Peter is a passionate textiles engineer and a very hard worker who loves spending time with his workers. Eighty percent of the day he is somewhere between yarn, steel and oil, crawling in and out of machines.