Philanthrocapitalism
Jeremy Moon started Icebreaker in the nineties by reinventing the 3000-year-old merino wool industry in New Zealand. A merino grower showed him a prototype fabric he'd developed from 100% merino wool. This soft, non-itch, lightweight fabric was a world away from the itchy, scratchy wool Jeremy had grown up with. Jeremy immediately saw the potential of a natural, biodegradable fabric that combined the benefits of wool and synthetics.
The discovery inspired him to quit his research job and mortgage his house to launch Icebreaker and pioneer a new retail category: merino outdoor clothing. Within a decade, Icebreaker had grown to become New Zealand's leading outdoor clothing producer and exporter.
Jeremy directs all major operating and business strategies from the company's global headquarters in Wellington, New Zealand. A leading figure in the sustainable business movement, Jeremy was named a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in 2008 for his services to business. Jeremy chairs the New Zealand Government's Better by Design group, which helps companies to become competitive internationally by integrating design principals across their business. He is also a member of the Government's Growth and Innovation Advisory Board.
26:30 | 2016