Highlights

  • Merino & Co. has appointed a specialist to lead a new botanical dyeing initiative for its wool products.
  • The appointee brings close to four decades of textile experience, including specialised work in eco-transfer printing.
  • The three-year role centres on using native Australian eucalyptus leaves and bark as natural dye sources.
  • Management links the initiative to the company's existing focus on Australian-made, Australian-wool products.

Merino & Co. Limited (ASX:MNC) has announced the appointment of botanical print specialist Fiona Su to lead the company's plant-dyed product development initiative, according to an ASX announcement dated 16 September 2026 titled "Merino & Co. appoints botanical print specialist to lead plant-dyed product development." The appointment brings dedicated expertise in natural dyeing techniques to the company's product development function, with a focus on materials sourced from native Australian flora.

Background and Expertise of the New Appointment

Fiona Su brings close to four decades of experience across the textile and apparel sector, with more than 15 years specifically focused on botanical eco-transfer printing using native Australian plants. Eco-transfer printing is a natural dyeing technique in which plant materials are pressed against fabric, often with the application of heat and moisture, to transfer pigments and produce distinctive patterns directly from organic sources. Su's specialisation in this area, combined with her broader textile background, positions her to oversee both the technical and creative dimensions of Merino & Co.'s botanical dyeing program. Natural and plant-based dyeing techniques have drawn increasing interest across the broader textile industry as an alternative to synthetic colourants, given the availability of botanical source material and the potential to make use of plant matter that would otherwise be discarded.

Scope of the Three-Year Appointment

Under the terms of the three-year appointment, Su will be responsible for establishing quality standards for the company's botanical dyeing processes and leading research into dyes and techniques suited to Merino & Co.'s product range. Her remit also extends to developing internal Training programs so that botanical dyeing capability can be built across the organisation, as well as enhancing how the resulting products are presented at retail and exhibition venues. A central feature of the initiative is the use of Australian eucalyptus leaves and bark, including plant material that would otherwise be treated as waste, as the primary source of natural colourants. Building this capability internally, rather than relying solely on external contractors, is intended to give the company greater consistency and control over the finished appearance of its botanically dyed products over time.

Strategic Rationale

Managing Director Fiona Yue framed the appointment as a natural extension of the company's existing positioning, stating: "Our products are made in Australia from Australian merino wool. Colouring them with abundantly available Australian plants is the natural next step." The comment ties the botanical dyeing initiative directly to Merino & Co.'s established emphasis on domestic sourcing, linking the origin of the raw wool with the origin of the dyeing materials used to colour finished products. The approach also reflects a broader pattern among wool and apparel producers of pairing natural fibre sourcing with complementary natural processing methods, as a way of presenting a more cohesive, locally grounded product story to customers.

Key Takeaways

The appointment of Fiona Su gives Merino & Co. dedicated, specialised Leadership for a new botanical dyeing initiative that draws on native Australian eucalyptus material, including material otherwise discarded as waste. Over the three-year term, the role is intended to build internal capability through quality standards, research and training, while also improving how plant-dyed products are presented to customers. The initiative aligns with the company's stated positioning around Australian-made, Australian-wool products, extending that domestic-sourcing narrative to the dyeing process itself.