Perino Yarns

At Perino, we recognise that a dedicated team and strong communities are behind every exceptional yarn. Our success begins from our home base in Wellington, where we proudly employ local staff in our factory and actively support the community through various sponsorship initiatives.   Our commitment extends across New Zealand, where we source possum fibre from trusted suppliers who meet our best practice guidelines. Additionally, we support local farmers by using ZQ-certified merino wool, promoting responsible farming practices and high-quality materials.   However, our impact extends beyond the borders of New Zealand. Perino yarns are trusted by industry experts and renowned brands worldwide, and this trust is built on the strong relationships we have cultivated with our people – our local suppliers, trappers, farmers, and innovators.   When you choose to work with Perino, you are supporting local communities, global craftsmanship, and a team that is as committed to quality as you are. Together, we create yarns that are not only exceptional in quality but also rich in human value.

Exclusivity is not just a feature of Perino yarns; it is our commitment. Our yarns are sought after by leading luxury brands worldwide because they represent a unique blend of excellence, reliability, and elegance.   Behind this exclusivity lies a carefully managed supply chain that ensures reliable and consistent access to our premium materials without compromising on quality. This makes Perino yarns the preferred choice for high-end fashion designers who value dependability in their supply chain.   When you choose Perino, you become part of an exclusive community that values high-quality products and the art of crafting it. We don't just offer exceptional materials; we provide luxurious yarn that can be transformed into beautifully crafted garments, offering an exquisite experience for the wearer.

More than just raw materials, our yarns represent New Zealand's legacy of craftsmanship and innovation. Each strand of Perino yarn is meticulously crafted at Woolyarns using a blend of traditional techniques and modern textile machinery, resulting in a yarn that embodies both beauty and strength.   Our dedicated team of yarn engineers works tirelessly to ensure that each batch is not only soft and durable, but also exquisitely finished. From sourcing fibres to the final stages of production, we take every step with care, precision, and unmatched craftsmanship.   When you choose Perino, you're choosing a product that's a testament to our commitment to quality craftsmanship.

Sustainability at Perino isn’t just a goal; it’s woven into every decision we make. From our sourcing practices to our production processes, we prioritise long-term environmental responsibility to ensure our yarns not only feel luxurious but are also made with care for the planet.   Our brushtail possum fibres are ethically sourced, and our approach to managing the brushtail possum population is endorsed by the New Zealand Government as an effective way to protect our ecosystem. Our practices to collect brushtail possum fibre adhere to best practice guidelines and the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards (AIHTS), ensuring that our collection processes are ethical, humane, and transparent. By responsibly removing this invasive pest, we help preserve New Zealand’s natural environment.   Woolyarns, the spinner behind Perino, holds the Toitū Gold certification, recognising our commitment to environmental management within the factory and through the processes of manufacturing Perino yarns.   By choosing Perino, you’re not just selecting a superior yarn; you’re choosing an elegant yarn with conscience.

Imagine working with a fibre so rare and luxurious that it can only be sourced from one place on Earth — New Zealand. Perino yarns are crafted using the unique brushtail possum fibre, a material known for its superior warmth, softness, and durability. This rare fibre adds an unparalleled richness to our blended yarns, creating a product unlike any other in the market.   Ethically and responsibly sourced and in limited quantities, this fibre adds luxurious texture and a unique look to garments while benefiting New Zealand’s biodiversity efforts. Limited in quantity, but never in quality — this is the fibre that makes Perino yarns stand out. When your designs demand the extraordinary, choose Perino.

In September, Woolyarns had the pleasure of attending the 2024 Spin Expo in Shanghai. Our Perino samples made it to the trending area, and it was great to see some new and current faces. Our giveaway pompom keychains were a hit as well! Thank you to everyone who stopped by for a chat and looking forward to Spin Expo 2025!

Neil Mackie - Managing Director We celebrate not just a retirement, but a legacy of dedication, hard work, and unwavering commitment to the textile industry. Your journey has touched so many lives and set a standard of excellence we all aspire to. As you step into this new chapter, know that your impact will be felt for years to come. May your retirement be filled with joy, relaxation, and the fulfilment of dreams you've been saving for this moment. Thank you for everything Neil —you will be deeply missed.

Join us over the next couple of weeks as we showcase what makes Perino yarns truly special and the perfect choice for your next high-end garment collection. Each short video provides glimpses of the story behind Perino – where nature, innovation, and luxury come together. From sustainably sourced materials to exquisite craftsmanship, discover why leading brands trust Perino to deliver unmatched quality and exclusivity in every thread of yarn. At Perino, nature is our ultimate source of inspiration. Our yarns begin with the finest natural fibres, including brushtail possum, which we responsibly remove from New Zealand’s ecosystem to help protect its pristine environment. We also use ZQ merino from farms across the country that meet the highest environmental standards. The blend of these exceptional materials, paired with our deep commitment to sustainability, makes Perino yarns more than a luxury—it’s a responsibility we uphold with pride.   When you choose Perino, you're choosing a yarn that honours nature while elevating your creations. This is where the natural world meets exquisite craftsmanship—woven into every product.

Carding Excellence: The Foundation of Our Perino Yarns From raw fibre to luxurious Perino yarn, the journey involves many critical steps, with carding being one of the most important.   In contrast to worsted carding, which tightly aligns fibres for a smoother finish, woollen carding focuses on creating loft and warmth. Our carding machines expertly remove impurities and untangle any fibre clumps. They blend the fibres evenly to ensure consistent colours and textures, creating a soft, continuous carded web of fibres that is then divided into thinner roving’s and spun into our exceptional yarns — perfect for cozy, luxurious knitwear pieces.   When you choose Perino yarns, you’re not just getting a luxurious blend of brushtail possum with cashmere, merino, and silk. You’re getting a yarn that’s been carefully processed to achieve perfect loft, consistency, and softness. Thanks to the precision of our customised carding machines, we can create woollen spun yarns as fine as 36Nm and as thick as 2Nm, offering you flexibility in your designs, whether you’re creating lightweight knits or warm, lofty, chunkier pieces.   Our carding machines are the pride of Woolyarns. Updated with the latest technology and meticulously maintained, they allow us to consistently meet the high standards you expect. The machines are the silent heroes behind the yarns you love, working tirelessly to give you yarns that behave beautifully, whether you’re knitting or weaving.   It's this attention to detail and commitment to innovation that helps us craft brushtail possum yarns of unmatched quality.

At the heart of our production lies the magic of dyeing raw fibres. The process begins by selecting the finest raw materials such as 15.5-micron ZQ certified merino wool and brushtail possum fibre from New Zealand.   These carefully chosen fibres are then immersed into our dye vats, where the colours truly come to life. The pristine quality of New Zealand's water is crucial in this process, enabling us to achieve vibrant, consistent hues.   Throughout the dyeing process, our skilled operators take special care with each and every batch, upholding the high standards our customers have come to expect. They meticulously monitor the dye vats, making precise adjustments to preserve fibre quality all while achieving the rich, vibrant colours that define our Perino blended yarns.   We then manage our wastewater with great care, maintaining our low-risk status for trade waste throughout our dyehouse. This commitment to excellence is evident in every step of our process, from fibre selection to the finished yarn.