Swanndri

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Swanndri is a trade name for a range of popular New Zealand outdoor clothing.

The item was widely worn by farmers, but in recent years its popularity has spread and it has become something of a fashion item. The Swanndri company also now produces a range of more urban-focussed garments.

The classic "swanny" or bush shirt is a heavy woollen garment with a lace up section at the neck[1]. Although a wide range of colours and patterns are available, the traditional swanny pattern is a dark plaid which could be described as a 'reverse gingham', with thick criss-crossing stripes of either blue or red over a black base.

[edit] History

The Swanndri, or “swanny” as it has been dubbed, was designed by William Broome (1873-1942). Since he registered Swanndri as a trademark on December 23, 1913, it has become an iconic New Zealand garment.

Broom, born in Staffordshire, England, immigrated to New Zealand at age 21. A tailor by trade, he established a clothier and outfitters business, The Palatine that was located on Devon Street, New Plymouth. Part of his business involved sewing woolen fabric from mills in Wanganui, Kaiapoi and Wellington, into the Swanndri garments. The characteristics of the “swanny” design include its heavy dark fabric, often in a plaid pattern and ties up around the neck. In more recent designs, a zipper has replaced the ties. The original design was short sleeved, long in the back, and would be worn on top of work clothes for warmth and shower proofing. During production, these garments were dipped into a mixture of dissolved chemicals and then dried. It is not known if Broome had been taught the method for shower proofing the fabric he used or whether he developed the formula himself. Unfortunately, the mixture caused the garments to shrink, making it difficult to determine size. Consequently they were sold as one size fits all^[1].

In 1938, Broome transferred the business to his wife, Ivy. Broome himself died four years later at aged 69 years. In 1952, Ivy sold the business and trademark to John McKendrick, who operated a clothing factory at Waitara. McKendrick began purchasing fabric that was closely woven and pre-shrunk which enabled him to make different pattern sizes and garments. He sourced his cloth from South Island-based Alliance textiles, and the business expanded with factories in Waitara and Opunake. Alliance purchased Swanndri in 1991 when McKendrick retired and continued for a few years until production centered in Timaru and the Taranaki operation closed. In 1994, Swanndri New Zealand Ltd purchase the brand from Alliance Textiles^[2].

According to the Swanndri’s corporate history, Broome’s design began after he was frustrated by the persistently rainy New Zealand weather. The name Swanndri was named by Broome because the rain would literally run off the back of the garment as it does on a swan^[3]. Although new colors and features have been incorporated into the Swanndri, Broom’s original design influence can still be seen in New Zealand and among other producers around the world.