McDonald Possum Merino Ridge Vest

Classic yet distinctive vest made from the ultimate combination of natural fibers for warmth without weight. Knitted in New Zealand by McDonald Textiles.

A classic navy coloured vest with feature ridge neck detailing.  (Note that the lighter colour vest image is just to show the detailing.)

The blend of natural Merino, Possum fur and Silk fibres will ensure the cold never gets in. 

See 'More Information' tab above for Chest and Body Length measurements.

• Rib detailing on neck
• 35% Possum Fur, 55% Merino Wool, 10% Pure Mulberry Silk
• New Zealand designed and manufactured
• Natural and Sustainable

About Possum Merino

Once you’ve tried it nothing else will feel as warm and soft. Possum Merino is a wonderful blend of possum fur and superfine New Zealand Merino wool with a texture similar to cashmere - luxuriously soft, incredibly lightweight, exceptionally warm and easy to wear. It won’t pill, it won’t wrinkle, it’s anti-static and is an innovative and practical market solution to an environmental challenge facing New Zealand.

Due to its hollow nature, the possum fur fibre is incredibly insulating and provides exceptional thermal warmth without weight. Research has shown that it is 55% warmer than Merino and 35% warmer than cashmere.

Superfine New Zealand Merino wool is renowned for its skin-friendly softness, all-seasons breathability and easy care durability. It combines beautifully with possum fur to create garments of exceptional warmth and quality that are incredibly good value.

Care Directions

We recommend McDonald Possum Merino garments are hand-washed in cold water using a gentle wool detergent (if in doubt use baby shampoo). You can then use a washing machine to gently spin away any excess water before air-drying. Lay any clothing flat and dry away from direct sunlight.

Easy does it. There’s no need to wash our clothing after every use. The organic fibres in each item naturally resist odour build-up so you can use less energy and water from washing.

Look inside. We have washing instructions printed on the care label inside each garment and, with accessories, on the printed label in the packaging.

About McDonald

On 2,800 hectares of family farmland in New Zealand’s South Island lies one of the country’s most remotely beautiful spots, renowned for its picturesque rolling hills, rugged merino-rearing hill country, and vine-clad river plains. This magical place is woven into the McDonald story- one of inimitable quality, and love for the land. When you take a McDonald piece home, you are taking home a piece of New Zealand- authentic and made with care and heart.  Made with only the finest natural fibres, a McDonald garment captures the essence of luxury New Zealand to gift yourself or a loved one.

Uncompromising quality: the finest materials are carefully sourced from the fields of New Zealand - merino wool and possum fur - and combined with Mulberry silk to yield an exclusive yarn that’s lighter, stronger, warmer and more luxurious than merino or cashmere alone. Then, through the most exacting of processes and the utmost attention to detail, this yarn is transformed into enduring and elegant garments that surpass fashion trends and stand the test of time.

About the Brushtail Possum

The Australian Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) is a medium sized marsupial and was introduced into New Zealand in 1837. It is from a completely different family to that of the American Opossum, and has a fur quality similar to Mink. With no natural predators, numbers exploded to approximately 70 million in the 1980s, with possums chewing their way through 21 000 tons of native vegetation each night. As well as competing directly with native birds for food, possums eat birds’ eggs, chicks and insects. Their voracious appetite threatens the survival of many of our native plants, insects and birds, including the iconic flightless kiwi.

Animal health and conservation authorities spend many millions of dollars each year on trapping and controversial poisoning campaigns in attempts to control the pest. In addition, the possum fur industry helps to keep the possum numbers down. Recent figures have shown that due to two decades of control, possum numbers have dropped to approximately 30 million. However, we must remain vigilant as with no natural predators, New Zealand conditions are so favourable for possums, they are often able to breed twice a year and could easily and rapidly increase in numbers once again.

The New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) support the use of possum fur.

So, by choosing to wear our luxurious Possum Merino knitwear you are helping to preserve the fragile and beautiful New Zealand environment. Become part of the solution and wrap up warm in Possum Merino.