All APTION garments are constructed exclusively with New Zealand Mapp Merino Wool.
MAPP fabric is produced using exclusive ZQ Merino fibers sourced from only the highest quality farms. MAPP incorporates these ‘natural performance’ fibers into fabrics specifically designed for synergy within the active outdoors. MAPP is a guarantee of source, process, and functionality. MAPP Merino fabric is processed in facilities that meet the highest environmental standards and which carry both ISO 9000 and Blue Sign system partner accreditation.
ZQ Merino growers must provide the five key freedoms for all animals because these freedoms ensure a healthy, low-stress quality of life, which in turn enables the production of healthy, high-quality ZQ Merino fiber.
WHILE SOME WOOL CAN LOOK LIKE THIS…
Poor health and stress experienced by sheep are transferred into the fiber they produce. It creates uneven fiber diameter and ‘weak points’ which leads to poor quality and poor garment performance. Not to mention the suffering that the sheep will have been under during this time.
…ZQ MERINO WOOL LOOKS LIKE THIS.
ZQ Merino tends to be more uniform in diameter, and wool with weak points simply does not meet the ZQ Merino grade. This means that ZQ Merino provides consistent high quality high performing fiber year on year, season after season.
Mulesing is a surgical procedure that removes a section of skin from the sheep. It is carried out to reduce the risk of attack by flies (often described as flystrike). Mulesing is NOT permitted on properties that supply ZQ Merino. ZQ Merino growers have adopted integrated strategies to manage the risk of flystrike, without mulesing. ZQ Merino led the world to be the first accredited Merino fibre that guarantees mulesing does not occur. It is still the world’s main source of accredited non-mulesed wool.
ZQ Merino growers
ZQ Merino growers are regularly audited to confirm that they comply with the requirements of the ZQ Accreditation Manual. The manual provides guidelines to achieve fiber quality, animal welfare and health, care for the environment and social responsibility.
ZQ Merino is audited by AsureQuality, an internationally recognized assurance organization, compliant with ISO guide 65 and ISO 9001, and accredited with the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand.
By choosing ZQ Merino products, you can be confident that the sheep producing the wool are humanely treated, well fed, live natural and healthy lives, and are not subjected to mulesing, which in turn means you are also buying Merino fiber of the very highest quality and performance.
