When you travel to the southern hemisphere in summertime, you bring home winter gifts. It just makes you blink and scratch your head, but of course that’s because you’ve traveled to the opposing pole with opposing seasons. This brings me to sweaters and the cute animal most Kiwis (New Zealanders) have learned to hate, but some have developed a warm heart for them.
The Europeans – although all Kiwis blame the Australians – brought the Possums to the islands of New Zealand. You’re probably thinking of the rat-like critters with the thin snouts and long narrow tail. Alas, those are the Virginia Opossums (pronounced “possum”) which can be found all over the southern plains and southeastern U.S. The Opossums trigger memories of hearing these nocturnal marsupials on the roof of my Florida home. So cute they were hanging upside down by their tale with their babies close by for security. However, to me they sounded more like a nuisance having a party, which is what these omnivores do most nights.
Possums, on the other hand, appear to be more likeable – fluffy and furry – perfect for Europeans with goals of establishing a fur industry. However, when the settlers turned their heads, the Possums began to take over thanks to their broad diet (said another way, most will “eat anything”) and successful reproductive process. Creativity swept the research and development of a company called, Untouched World, who over a lamb dinner realized the full potential of the lowly Possum.
Let’s listen in on two Aussies talking out in the pasture*…
“Hi Mate, you sure have some beautiful Merino sheep there in your pasture.”
“If it weren’t for those pests those ol’ possums that scare them plum to death at night – I can’t keep up with shooting them all off my land.”
“Yeah, but they are furry buggers aren’t they, seems like they’d be good for something.”
Now, the conversation between the men didn’t brew into anything, but those women listening in decided to experiment and knit some lovely light, warm and comfy sweaters that year. The whole family was happy and curious because their new sweaters did not weigh on their shoulders when they bundled up in the land of the Lord of the Rings. The mothers said the new sweaters were as good as Merinomink © and hence, a new product was born.
To credit the Kiwis, they took a solution to a problem and added a wonderful dose of environmental responsibility and marketing and now the fashion label Untouched World offers lovely Ecopossum and Merinomink sweaters. As I look outside to see the heat rippling off the pavement, I pack up my new sweater and scarf and am please to have a souvenir of my trip. The company is one of few with the “United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (UN DESD) logo on its labeling – one of a small number of organizations internationally accredited.”
So this winter, I will wrap up in my native Kiwi sweater and congratulate the real women who had the good sense and creativity to develop a new product from a problem. Check out their story at http://www.untouchedworld.com/Information/389 . I’ll check in with you again in December!
* Fictionalized version. The real story can be found at www.untouchedworld.com
Jane Mudgett, balances her daily financial planning and investment management, with being a curious world traveler. Jane also fosters her altruistic nature by being actively involved with community non-profits. Her philosophy is: “It’s better to have ten new experiences than one experience ten times.”
