Colleen Connell: What drives your passion for the business?
Andrew Eadie: I started working here during school holidays, watching my father and all the other staff in the various processes. By age 17 I had become reasonably competent in most production areas, and spent three years in Scotland studying and nosing around textile mills up and down the land. For the last 30 years, I have worked here at Kerry Woollen Mills. I truly enjoy producing yarns, fabrics and garments because of the creativity involved, and the use of natural fibres--converting them from fleece to a garment mixing different colours and qualities together to achieve the desired result. The payback is not monetary, but when you see your tweed in a cap on a fisherman's head 5000 miles from here or see a woman wearing one of our capes walking down the street, you know something is going right. Producing woollens that stand the test of time may be old fashioned, but it provides me true satisfaction when our goods find an owner who values them and gets great use and comfort from them.

Colleen: What does the sheep's diet consist of to certify organic wool?
Andrew: The requirements for organic certification are in regards to animal husbandry, such as the type of dip used on the sheep, and the management of the grazing land, which must be in accordance with organic procedures. Their diet really remains grass and other plants they forage for. Occasionally they may be fed meal when they are lambs, but this must be of a certain type, no GM, etc. These sheep graze the lands and mountains pretty freely and are not kept in yards or sheds. The principal impact on the wearer of an organic wool garment is the type of dip used, as non-organically-certified dips cause allergies and skin problems for many people.

Colleen: How many employees do you have at KWM?
Andrew: We currently have 15 employees in manufacturing here plus outworkers.

Colleen: What is your inspiration for developing new product lines?
Andrew: In developing new product lines, we try to either find a new niche or product using natural fibres in our classic and traditional mould yet seeking fashionable colours or patterns. For example, last year we produced a range of clerical vestments and stoles combining a traditional woollen fabric with a modern lurex yarn to produce a strong visual vestment for a cathedral or large church setting. We retain a textile designer to help make my ideas a reality or to prod us in different directions.

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