Suri is a high end, luxury fiber prized for its
combination of luster, fineness, slick handle, cool feeling, drape,
elegance, and strength. No other animal fiber possesses all these features,
and it makes Suri highly sought after throughout the world. Suri can be used
in a multitude of applications including knitting and weaving, as its
elegance and beauty transcend the processing medium.
The Suri Network is dedicated to the promotion and betterment of Suri fiber and is working actively, through the Suri Network Product Development Committee (SNPDC), to become an international leader in the production of this great but rare fiber. With the support of the Suri Network Board, the SNPDC offers educational seminars, attends well recognized fiber festivals on behalf of its members, works with fiber arts publications to promote Suri, provides product development to help promote the fiber, and has initiated the first ever Suri Fiber Harvesting Code of Practice.
Education:
Whether you currently own Suris or are completely new to this great
breed, we encourage you to attend one of our
seminars, held at various
dates and times throughout the country. If you own Suris and are
thinking of hosting a seminar, consider purchasing one of our “turn-key”
seminars – we’ll provide the syllabus, the instructor, and all samples
and handouts. You just need to provide the location and the attendees!
Fiber Festivals:
Thinking about purchasing Suris or maybe just purchasing Suri fiber?
Stop by one of our booths, put your hands on this exquisite fiber, sit
down and spin with one of our spinning mentors, or just look around at
the display of finished products we have on hand. You’ll see what all
the excitement is about!
Product Development:
Whether you are new to Suri fiber or want to learn more, product
development is a key component of understanding the best applications of
a fiber and promoting that fiber in the best possible light. To that
end, the SNPDC is proud to offer the first commercially available
Suri
knitting patterns for sale at the retail and wholesale level. These
patterns serve to educate suri owners, knitters, and processors alike,
and are just the start of our efforts to fully understand the beauty of
this fiber.
Suri Fiber Harvesting Code of Practice:
Wondering about the shearing process? How to prepare for it? How to
direct the shearer? How to prepare your fiber to secure the best
possible profits? A Code of Practice offers all this information and
much more. But until now, there has never been one designed specifically
for Suris…but we have it and it will be available to all Suri Network
members in March, 2010. If you are looking to purchase high quality
fiber, ask your farm whether they are using “the Code”. If you are just
starting out as a breeder, follow the procedures set forth in the Code,
and you will have the best possible outcome for your fiber.
Fiber Arts Publications:
If you enjoy fiber arts, then pick up a copy of magazines such as
Spin-Off, Handwoven, or Knits Magazine and you might see an article
about Suri in there. We periodically run magazine articles to educate
fiber folks about the applications of this fiber and ensure they have a
positive experience when working with Suri.