Pests Transformed

New Zealand possum fur is being imported by Portland-based company Eco-Luxury which produces throws, cushions and bedspreads, “for all of the luxury and none of the guilt.” On a trip to New Zealand, owner Chrys Hutchings’ husband gave her a fur bedspread, and the idea of using possum fur in the home was born. Possums chomp their way through 20,000 tons of vegetation, and are threatening indigenous plants and animals, including the endangered kiwi. “Fur is sustainable, recyclable, biodegradable,” says Hutchings. Others, such as Possum NZ, a company run by Teresa Angliss, have already started making hats, scarves and gilets from possum fur. An easier approach is thought to be possum wool, where the fur is woven into merino wool to create a fibre called MerinominkTM. It’s being used to make jumpers by the New Zealand company Untouched World.