Gerber & Co champions the revival of South African wool

South Africa’s wool industry is turning a page and Gerber & Co is writing the new chapter. Once a nation known for exporting nearly all of its raw wool, the country is now reclaiming its position in the global textile arena through innovation, sustainability, and local production. At the centre of this movement stands Gerber & Co Group, a vertically integrated manufacturing powerhouse based in Paarl, Western Cape.

With divisions in scouring, knitting, embroidery, and non-woven textiles, Gerber & Co is more than a factory, it’s a symbol of a revived ecosystem. The company has built a seamless value chain that connects farmers, designers, and retailers, ensuring that South African wool is processed, refined, and transformed into world-class products right here at home.

“We believe in bringing the value back to our soil,” says founder Stefan Gerber. “For too long, South African wool has left our shores unprocessed. We’re changing that, one fibre at a time.”

A Sustainable Engine of Growth

Sustainability and traceability are at the core of the Gerber & Co story. Through close collaboration with Cape Wools SA, the company meets the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) and other international certification requirements. Every bale that enters the facility can be traced from farm to fabric, providing full transparency and assurance to customers at home and abroad.

This level of accountability doesn’t just appeal to international buyers; it empowers local producers too. By processing wool domestically, Gerber & Co shortens supply chains, reduces carbon emissions, and generates much-needed employment in the region. It’s a model that merges commerce with conscience, a blueprint for African manufacturing’s future.

A Historic Milestone: The Scouring Plant Opening

The official opening of the Gerber & Co scouring plant in October marked a defining moment for the industry. As the first commercial-scale wool scouring facility to re-opens in South Africa in decades, it signals the rebirth of local textile processing capacity.

During the event, partners from across the agricultural, fashion, and manufacturing sectors gathered to witness more than an operational milestone and the start of an economic revival.

“This is bigger than a factory launch,” notes Cape Wools’ CEO Deon Saayman. “It’s the start of a new value-chain era that brings jobs, skills, and pride back to South Africa’s textile heritage.”

The plant’s advanced operation allows Gerber & Co to process thousands of kilograms of raw wool per day with minimal environmental impact. In practical terms, this means more local production, faster turnaround times, and a powerful export proposition that competes globally on both quality and ethics.

Wool Reimagined: The Gerber & Co Brand Family

Beyond infrastructure, Gerber & Co’s greatest success lies in the brands born from its ecosystem, each translating South African wool into lifestyle products that tell a uniquely local story.

• BaaBaa redefines comfort with natural wool duvets and bedding.
• Karoo Kombers revives the art of the blanket with wool-rich designs.
• Invisi Merino delivers high-performance base layers engineered from nature.
• Weluka celebrates craftsmanship through hand-woven rugs.
• Gerber & Co Apparel brings sustainable style into everyday wear.

Together, these brands form a collection that positions South African wool not as a commodity, but as a proud resource, rooted in authenticity and quality.

The Road Ahead

As the world moves toward conscious consumption, Gerber & Co’s vertically integrated approach offers a compelling case for buying better, not just buying more. By anchoring production close to the farms, investing in people, and fostering innovation, the company proves that local manufacturing can compete with the best in the world.

In the words of Stefan Gerber: “This isn’t just our comeback, it’s South Africa’s. Wool is back, and it’s here to stay.”

Learn more about the movement at www.gerberandcogroup.com.