Transparency
At Mons Royale, our mission is to create Merino performance apparel that doesn’t f*ck the planet. Part of that means being accountable for a supply chain that runs from Merino stations to yarn mills, cut-and-sew factories, freight shipping, retail stores, and onto the shoulders of our riders. This page covers who's in that supply chain and our goals for planet and people going forward.
The Mons Royale Growers Club
While some of our wool comes from Australia, most of our Merino wool comes from eight farms across the South Island of New Zealand. We call them the Mons Royale Growers Club. We aim to host two events a year and attend the shearings annually.
- Glenbourne Station
- Mount White Station
- Glenthorne Station
- Lake Ōhau Station
- Simon's Hill
- Buscot Station
- Black Forest
- Tuohy's Gully
Quality Certification
Every farm operates under ZQ or ZQ+ certification, which sets independently verified requirements on animal welfare, land management, and social standards. We're working with our growers and Zentera (formerly the New Zealand Merino Company) to build out how we measure and report progress at a farm level.
All our wool is traceable back to farm through the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) certification and the Content Claim Standard.
Our Process
Ever wondered how your Mons Royale gear was made? Here’s the process, from Merino sheep to the tee on your shoulders.
1. Farming
Wool begins on the farm, where animal welfare, land stewardship, and good shearing practice directly shape fibre quality.
2. Scouring (washing the wool)
Scouring is the industrial wash that removes grease, dirt, salts, and other contaminants so wool can be processed consistently.
3. Combing or Top-making
Combing aligns fibres in the same direction and removes short fibres and remaining impurities to create smooth ‘top’ for worsted spinning.
4. Yarn Spinning
Spinning turns prepared fibre into yarn by drafting and twisting, controlling strength, handle, and uniformity. We can then ply the yarns together to create a thicker yarn for more durable fabrics.
5. Fabric Making
Fabric is formed by knitting or weaving yarn. Knitting loops yarn for stretch and comfort in base to mid layers, while weaving interlaces warp and weft yarns for stable structures in shells, trousers and shirting.
6. Dyeing
Dyeing adds colour at fibre, yarn, or fabric stage, balancing colour fastness, consistency and process efficiency.
7. Cut, Make, Trim
The fabric is then cut, sewn and trimmed to turn materials into finished garments.
8. Finishing
Finishing is the final set of treatments and checks that ensure the intended hand feel, appearance, and performance are delivered on before packing.
9. Shipping and delivery
Where possible, we ship our products by sea rather than air. It’s slower, but it significantly reduces emissions. Then it’s off to the store and into your wardrobe.
Our Partners
We work with long-term manufacturing partners who share our values of respect for people, animals, and planet. Our Supply Chain Code of Conduct breaks down our ethical and sustainable business operations and the equivalent expectations of all our supply chain partners. Below are three of our supply chain partners; you can find a full list of our factory partners here.
Venitra - Cut & Sew
We partner with Venitra, specialists in Merino wool and wool blend apparel for the outdoor and active market. Based in Shanghai, they hold ISO 9001 and ISO 14000 certification covering quality and environmental management systems, WRAP accreditation for labour, health and safety practices, Higg Index facility verification, and Oeko-Tex® Standard 100 certification confirming their textiles are tested against harmful substances.
Südwolle - Yarn Spinning
Our Merino wool is spun by Südwolle Group, specialists in Merino yarn innovation. They combine precision engineering with high environmental standards, holding Bluesign® and Oeko-Tex® certification that covers chemical management and environmental standards in yarn production.
Shanghai Challenge - Cut & Sew
We've partnered with Shanghai Challenge Textile for over ten years, specialists in Merino performance apparel. In 2010, Shanghai Challenge became the first company in mainland China to join the Bluesign System, marking a significant milestone in sustainable textile manufacturing. They were also certified as a national-level Green Factory in 2019.
What We're Doing
Mons Royale collaborates with supply partners and industry bodies to improve practice in managing human rights and environmental performance. We also maintain certifications at company level, material level, and supplier level. Here are some of the areas and workstreams where we are investing our time and energy.
Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI)
We're members of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), an alliance of businesses, trade unions, and NGOs working together to advance human rights in global supply chains. This is an active, ongoing membership, not a one-off certification. As members of ETI, we do our part to further their mission by addressing systemic barriers, strengthening respect for human rights, and driving lasting change across our supply chain. Our ETI Base Code Statement lays out our commitments to upholding the core principles of the ETI Base Code.
B Corp Certification
We are proudly B Corp Certified. B Corp measures performance across our business, including governance, human rights, climate action, diversity, inclusion, fair work, collaboration and environmental stewardship. We certified in November 2023 under standards version 1.6, and we are recertifying under the updated 2025 standards (Version 2.1), which require minimum standards across these impact areas, and a continuous improvement expectation. Our B Corp profile has more details.
Natural Fibres
In 2026, 77% of all our product materials were spun from natural fibres. Of that, Merino wool made up 59%, with the rest a mix of Organic Cotton, Lyocell and Hemp. Recycled content made up 10% of total fibre production, and 13% were virgin synthetics. For 2027, we’re currently on track for 84% natural fibres.
Environmental Action
We measure and report our Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions annually, third-party verified against the GHG Protocol. We are currently incorporating a comprehensive Scope 3 inclusion for FY25. Our baseline year is FY23. Our board-approved Climate Action Plan covers FY25 to FY30 and sets ambitious, science-based targets that will require collaboration with our supply chain partners. We are confident in the work happening on-farm through ZQ+ certification, and in our supply chain partners who are progressive in their approach to emissions reduction.
Our Mission
With our head office located in Wānaka, New Zealand, and regional offices in Innsbruck, Austria and Squamish, Canada, we’re sticking to our values of driving a local brand from mountain towns. We're committed to creating a culture of inclusion where all people are treated fairly and with respect. We know diverse perspectives strengthen creativity, innovation and connection. Mons Royale does not undertake lobbying activities or make political donations.
Our goal is simple: move the world from oil-based synthetics to nature's performance fibre, inspiring a life of action and adventure that doesn’t cost the planet. With a traceable supply chain, certified Merino wool, and our B Corp framework in place, we’ll keep the bar high in caring for our people, our products, and our planet.
Learn More
Merino Science
Merino Wool is 96% better than polyester at sweat management. It adapts in ‘stop-go’ sports to keep your microclimate dialled - warm when you’re standing still, dry when you’re pushing hard.
Merino Performance
Merino Wool is at the centre of everything we do. It's nature's performance fibre. Merino keeps you cool when it's hot, warm when it's not, and smelling fresh from first chair to last round.
Our Story
Sometime back in the early noughties, a storm-chasing Kiwi ski bum living out of a ski bag pondered a big problem - his gear wasn't cutting it for both epic mountain missions and post-shred hangs at the bar. Here we are 16 years later.
