Our Story
The Origins
Born & made in Christchurch since 1982
Our story starts in 1982, when Weft Knitting Company was founded by Hugh Douglas. We specialised in high quality woollen garments, for elegant, everyday wear.
In 1998, thirsty for a new challenge and a product that could truly set us apart, we were introduced to an exciting and emerging fibre blend: possum-merino. This remarkable blend of possum fur and merino wool opened up a new creative direction for us and has become the foundation of the Noble Wilde range
Over time, the world around us has shifted, and we’ve had to adapt in thoughtful, practical ways. Recent years have seen us reduce plastic in our packaging, develop Saison as a lighter trans-seasonal alternative, and deepen our focus on using our own fabric offcuts through the creation of a recycled yarn, Brushtale.
Through all these changes, what has stayed constant is our commitment to careful making, responsible choices, and garments designed to last. Those principles have carried Noble Wilde through the decades, and they continue to guide how we shape the work we do today.
Local Experts
Christchurch through and through
If you ever met any Cantabrians, you’ll know we’re a proud bunch. Noble Wilde are no different. Our Christchurch origins is as much a part of our identity as the clothing we produce. We have been making our garments under the beautiful Canterbury skies since 1982, and Possum Merino since 1998. It’s what makes us who we are, and the one thing we’ll never change.
All of our knitwear is made at our factory in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Production techniques
Spinning yarn into gloriously elegant gold
We put great stock in our production facilities and techniques. We like to think this part of the Noble Wilde story where we see the fruition of all our hard work, and where dreams become ready-to-wear realities.
Here are the four key steps in our production journey.
Spinning the yarn
The first stage in the creation of every Noble Wilde garment is when the possum fur and merino wool is dyed as a fibre and spun into a yarn.
This is to ensure the quality of the yarn is up to our exacting standards.
Manufacture
Our Possum Merino and Saisons garments are then knitted using Shima Seiki - WholeGarment technology, coming complete and perfectly formed off the knitting machine. We also sew some garments from shaped components.
Our Merino is knitted as a 'continuous' fabric and cut and sewn together by experienced craftspeople.
Laundering and wet-finish treatments
In line with our sustainability values, the detergent and finishing liquids used in our laundry are exempt from chlorine and other nasty chemicals and acids (APEO, EDTA and NTA). Their biodegradability is beyond the requirements of German legislation—just another example of how we hold ourselves to the highest standard.
Quality Control and Warehousing
Before anything leaves the factory, we go through and exhaustive quality control process—checking every garment we produce at least twice.
Items are carefully examined by hand, by the expert eye of our master makers. Before our warehouse team prepares each order with care, ready for pick, pack, and dispatch.