BRANWYN Deepens Partnership with Zentera & Transitions to ZQ+ Merino Wool Standard

May 7, 2026

Performance Innerwear brand raises the bar on responsible wool sourcing and supply chain transparency

Bend, OR (May 7, 2026) /OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ – BRANWYN continues to raise the bar for what Performance Innerwear can and should be by deepening its leadership at the intersection of uncompromising natural-fiber product performance, women’s health, and sustainability. The award-winning, seamless Merino wool brand announces its expanded partnership with Zentera Wool Company and has now fully transitioned to ZQ+ certified Merino wool, reinforcing its long-standing commitment to doing right by both people and planet.

From the beginning, BRANWYN has built its products around the belief that what touches a woman’s body matters for performance and health. Sourcing has always been a critical part of that promise. By working with Zentera and adopting the ZQ standard early on, BRANWYN championed a more responsible approach to wool, one rooted in animal welfare, social responsibility, and environmental stewardship, ensuring every garment begins with fiber produced with care and accountability at every stage.

Now, with the move to ZQ+, BRANWYN is going further. This next-generation standard traces every thread back to its farm of origin and is built on a 15-point index that measures people, planet, and animals together. ZQ+ supports a regenerative farming framework in which growers simultaneously improve soil health, animal wellbeing, plant and vegetation diversity, water quality, and strengthen rural communities.

Today, every BRANWYN garment is made with 17.5-micron Merino wool sourced exclusively from a small network of ZQ+ growers who meet the highest standards of animal care, land stewardship, and self-initiated continuous improvement. These practices aren’t just better for the planet; they result in better fiber. Wool produced from low-stress, free-range sheep is naturally softer, longer, and stronger, elevating the performance, longevity, and feel of every BRANWYN piece.

“We are proud to partner with BRANWYN, who genuinely care about the animals, people, and stories that sit behind the wool they use,” says Zentera CEO Angus Steet. “Deanne and her team are raising industry standards by investing in ZQ+ fibre, to create a positive impact across the whole supply chain, from the sheep and farm the wool was grown on to the consumer who wears it.”

“Our community is incredibly informed; they care deeply about what touches their bodies and the impact it has on the world,” says BRANWYN CEO Deanne Buck. “We’ve always believed performance starts with the people and ecosystems behind it, long before it reaches your body. That’s why we’ve invested in ZQ+ certified wool, full traceability from the farm, and long-term partnerships with the growers themselves. I spent time in New Zealand earlier this year with the people and the animals behind our fiber, and that level of connection and accountability is exactly what our community expects. They continue to push us to build a transparent supply chain and a product standard that doesn’t just participate in a category, it redefines it.”

This transition is more than a sourcing update. It reflects BRANWYN’s commitment to lead with transparency, to invest in people and partners that support women’s health and the health of the planet and animals, and to deliver products that perform at the highest level without compromise.

For more information on BRANWYN, please visit www.branwyn.com or direct media inquiries to Stacy Kline at stacy@darbycommunications.com.

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About BRANWYN

BRANWYN, based in Bend, Oregon, produces the world’s first ethically sourced, naturally sustainable Performance Innerwear designed by and for active women. By combining a first-ever blend of ZQ+ Merino and seamless knitting technology, BRANWYN revolutionizes women’s next-to-skin apparel, prioritizing comfort, temperature regulation, anti-microbial properties, breathability, and overall health. Our ethos, rooted in “Find A Way,” was inspired by the radical idea that women could create better underwear for themselves that meets our unique needs. Additionally, we collaborate with organizations that foster a sense of self in girls and women by breaking limiting beliefs through outdoor activities, sports, sweat, and movement. Committed to personal and global health, we use natural, non-toxic fibers and sustainable materials, and prioritize ethical farming and work practices.

About Zentera Wool Company

Zentera Wool Company, formerly The New Zealand Merino Company, is the company behind ZQ and ZQ+ (formerly ZQRX), the world’s leading marks for high-quality wool that’s grown with care for animals, land, and people. Founded in New Zealand, Zentera has worked alongside growers across the Southern Hemisphere and leading global brands for over 30 years to show that expertise and ethics belong together. Its wool is premium by nature and traceable back to the farm where it was grown. Learn more at www.zenterawool.com.

Contact:

Stacy Kline
Darby Communications
stacy@darbycommunications.com
724-272-9956 c