Wool may be at a low ebb, but that has not deterred organisers of a natural fibres conference to be held in Dunedin next month.
Natural Fibres in Australasia is being organised and hosted by the University of Otago from April 15 to 17, jointly with the Textile Institute of New Zealand and Australia.
It coincides with the United Nations-designated year of natural fibres.
Speakers from Australia, New Zealand, Poland, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Croatia and Thailand would address the conference, convener Raechel Laing said, and anyone was welcome to attend.
Topics would include assessing wool quality from Croatian sheep, the wool quality of Arkhatmerino-Moghan crossbred sheep, reducing irregularity in worsted wool processing and the latest research on natural fibres and textiles.
The conference would also look at the state and future of other fibres such as cotton, flax and bamboo.
A day had been set aside to look at the cultural relevance of various fibres.