Our Story

Wild Earth Yarns was founded in 2010 by husband-and-wife team Graham and Jacqui McLaughlin — a decision sparked by a rare opportunity: the chance to purchase a complete fibre processing plant from the Wool Research Institute of New Zealand. From that moment, they set out to build something meaningful: a business dedicated to producing exceptional, traceable yarns from New Zealand fibre.

In those early years, Jacqui ran the business while Graham continued working full-time in the wool industry, spending his evenings helping lay the foundations of what Wild Earth Yarns would become. It was a labour of love, built on long days, deep craft knowledge, and an unwavering belief in the quality of New Zealand wool. When Graham joined full-time, the business grew steadily — investing in new equipment, expanding production capabilities, and deepening relationships with the farmers and fibre producers at the heart of the supply chain.

A Family Business, Built to Last

In 2023, their son Blair joined the business as part of the family's succession plan. Involved in every aspect of the operation, Blair brings fresh energy to a business built on decades of expertise — ensuring the knowledge, passion, and craft behind Wild Earth Yarns will continue for generations to come.

A Historic Milestone

The most significant chapter in Wild Earth Yarns' history came in 2025, with the acquisition of New Zealand's only remaining commercial worsted spinning mill. By integrating this mill with the existing operation, the McLaughlin family has created New Zealand's most comprehensive commercial knitting yarn manufacturing facility.

Today, Wild Earth Yarns offers woollen, semi-worsted, and worsted spinning alongside in-house dyeing — meaning fibre can be transformed into premium yarn entirely within New Zealand, from paddock to skein.

Supporting New Zealand Farmers and Makers

Wild Earth Yarns is passionate about the people and landscapes that make New Zealand fibre exceptional. From processing small custom batches for independent designers to manufacturing yarn for commercial brands, the team is committed to producing yarns that are not only beautiful to work with, but fully traceable and sustainably produced.

When you choose Wild Earth Yarns, you're choosing a yarn with a story — one rooted in family, craft, and the finest New Zealand wool.

About Us

Wild Earth Yarns is a proudly New Zealand-owned yarn manufacturer and retailer, specialising in premium hand knitting yarns. We process wool on behalf of wool growers and fibre producers, while also creating our own exclusive ranges of beautifully crafted yarns using New Zealand-grown fibres.

With a minimum of 200kg of scoured wool, we can transform your fibre into a custom yarn tailored to your requirements. Whether you’re creating your own yarn brand or developing a unique blend, we work closely with our customers to produce high-quality yarns for the hand knitting market.

Alongside our signature Wild Earth Yarns collections, we are always exploring new fibres, blends, and colours. We welcome customer ideas and enjoy collaborating to develop exciting new yarns that showcase the exceptional quality of New Zealand fibre.

SHOP OUR YARNS

Meet the Family Behind Wild Earth Yarns

Wild Earth Yarns is a family-owned and operated business dedicated to producing premium New Zealand knitting yarns. We, Graham and Jacqui, work alongside our son Blair to manufacture natural fibre yarns, combining decades of experience with a genuine passion for wool.

Our exclusive Wild Earth Yarns collections are proudly manufactured in-house, giving us complete control over quality and 100% traceability from fibre to finished yarn. Alongside our own ranges, we also provide custom spinning services for New Zealand wool growers and fibre producers, helping them transform their fibre into unique yarns.

We believe every skein tells a story, and we’re proud to create yarns that celebrate New Zealand’s remarkable natural fibres, craftsmanship and heritage.

Our commitment to the environment

We’re proud that Wild Earth Yarns manufactures yarn without impacting negatively upon the environment. Our processes produce no emissions to air, no waste-water and no skips to the landfill. Any unused or waste wool is sent to Terra Lana who use it for insulation.