ASWGA recognises industry excellence by facilitating and supporting wool competitions both regionally and nationally.

The Ermenegildo Zegna Group is one of Italy’s best-known and most dynamic family businesses. Young entrepreneur, Ermenegildo founded the family’s first wool mill in Italy in 1910 to create woollen fabrics that had to be “the most beautiful in the world”. Even then, Ermenegildo had an international vision, ahead of his time, to source the best quality natural fibres, directly from their country of origin. Zegna has long been a supporter of Australian wool. Today, Zegna are one of the biggest global producers of fine fabrics from noble fibres. To celebrate the importance of wool and to incentivise wool producers to evolve the fineness and excellence of this fibre Ermenegildo Zegna holds competitions to encourage Australian wool growers.

The Ermenegildo Zegna Awards, now recognised worldwide as the most important competition in the wool industry, commenced in Tasmania in 1963 when the first Ermenegildo Zegna Perpetual Trophy was presented.

In 1980, ASWGA and Zegna launched a national competition, the Superfine Wool Trophy, to recognise the dedication to excellence shown by all Australian fine wool growers. In 2002 a second competition, called Ermenegildo Zegna Vellus Aureum Trophy was introduced. The competitions have grown in popularity and are now a highlight of the wool industry calendar.