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Derby bomb-blast clothing firm handed startup award

A Derby-based company has scooped a top award for start-ups through its bomb-blast wool garments, designed to protect troops.

Armadillo Merino has secured major export contracts for its range of “natural body armour” for fire fighters, police and military personnel.

Now the firm have won best product-based startup, at the Startup Awards. The garments were developed after soldiers wearing man-made fibres were severely scarred in roadside bomb incidents.

Merino wool has fire resistant properties, making it an ideal solution to the problem. The wool does not melt and fuse with the skin as other materials do in such situations.

Managing director Andy Caughey said: “It’s all about saving your skin. Soldiers in the first and second world wars knew the value of wearing wool close to their skin, for comfort and warmth. Wool has evolved over thousands of years to protect sheep in extremes of heat, humidity and cold.

“By combining modern technology with superfine merino wool, we have created a range of head to toe high performance garments that can help protect wearers and are so fine that they have a silky feel.

“We have been able to enhance the comfort and durability for risk-takers by removing internal labels, using smooth flatlock stitching and placing single panels under the arms at traditional friction points. User comfort is critical for operational effectiveness, which is why we educate users so they understand and appreciate the natural qualities of merino wool for comfort, warmth and protection.”

The judging panel, which included Dragons’ Den personality Douglas Bannatyne, said the product had the potential to build into a “world-leading medium sized business the UK needs.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .