Loro Piana: Announcing the Winners of the 2025 Record Bale Award

Loro Piana announced the 27th "Loro Piana Record Bale Award" on April 1, 2026, at the Hyokeikan, located within the Tokyo National Museum grounds.

The 2025 Loro Piana Record Bale Award for Australia was presented to Pyrenees Park, managed by Pamela, Robert, and Bradley Sandlant. In 2025, the farm produced 92kg of merino wool fibers measuring 10.4 microns, having previously set a world record in 2023 with an astonishing fineness of just 10.2 microns. The 2025 Loro Piana Record Bale Award for New Zealand was presented to Earnscleugh, managed by Alistair and Duncan Campbell. This farm produced 91kg of merino wool fibers measuring 11.2 microns. A micron is a unit of measurement for fiber fineness, with 1 micron equivalent to one-thousandth of a millimeter. Human hair is said to be approximately 70 microns.

Established in 1997, the "Loro Piana Record Bale Award" annually recognizes two farms in Australia and New Zealand that produce the highest quality merino wool bales. This encourages each farm to continuously pursue excellence. The extraordinary achievements by these breeders reflect their unwavering dedication to producing finer, higher-performance wool. This can only be achieved by harvesting wool from special merino sheep bred by generations of skilled breeders.

The world record-setting bale is stored in a glass container at Loro Piana's Quarona factory in Piedmont until a new record is set. Once a new record is established, the previous bale is crafted into a unique garment, offered to the most discerning connoisseurs.

All merino wool bales participating in the Record Bale contest are purchased by Loro Piana due to their exceptional fineness and are transformed into "The Gift of Kings®" garments. This name originates from the tradition of the Spanish royal family gifting pairs of merino sheep to European monarchs. The Gift of Kings® yarns and fabrics are lightweight, naturally elastic, adapt to temperature changes, providing warmth in cold seasons and releasing heat in warmer ones. Furthermore, they absorb up to 35% of their weight in moisture, ensuring a dry feel against the skin. The label on The Gift of Kings® garments records their traceability, including the year of harvest, origin, and fiber micronage.

Timeless, rare, and unique, Record Bale garments represent true excellence in merino wool production. The Record Bale Award is a testament to Loro Piana's passion for sourcing the world's finest wool and the Maison's dedication to exceptional quality, ultimate touch, and true luxury.

Frédéric Arnault, CEO of Loro Piana, hosted the event and gala dinner, which was attended by a diverse array of guests.

* Jun Aoki, Architect * Mizuka Ueno, Guest Principal, Tokyo Ballet * Taku Sato, Director, PARCEL * Masafumi Suzuki, Editor & Journalist * Yuta Takeda, Representative Director, Logs Inc. * Fumio Nanjo, Special Advisor, Mori Art Museum * Makoto Fujiwara, Director, Tokyo National Museum * Masataka Hosoo, Tae Hosoo, HOSOO * Hosai Matsubayashi, Asahiyaki * Takahiro Yagi, Kaikado * Mari Yamazaki, Manga Artist, Writer, Painter * Robert Campbell, Japanese Literature Scholar, University Professor

**Loro Piana Record Bale Award**

It all began in the late 1990s when Pier Luigi Loro Piana met Donald Burnett, one of New Zealand's oldest wool breeders from Mount Cook Station farm. Recognizing high potential in his pioneering vision, which was constantly striving to improve fiber fineness, Pier Luigi established the "Loro Piana Record Bale Award" in 1997 to honor this exceptional breeder.

The "Loro Piana Record Bale Award" is an annual award presented by Loro Piana to top farms in Australia and New Zealand to celebrate their outstanding achievements. This award encourages breeders to produce the highest quality merino wool and offers Loro Piana customers the opportunity to acquire unique, one-of-a-kind items. Over the years, this commitment has fostered a continuous pursuit of excellence in wool production.