WHAT IS MERINO WOOL? 

Merino is a breed of sheep famous for its fine, soft wool and its ability to thrive in New Zealand's high country - surviving freezing winters and scorching summers. It's thought to be the oldest sheep breed in the world, having evolved from several wild species.

NATURAL : MERINO IS 100% NATURAL 

Merino grows in a thick fleece on a happy sheep. It is natural, sustainable and biodegradable. Each year this fleece is carefully trimmed off and turned into our amazingly soft and comfortable clothing. Merino is a renewable fibre, meaning that it is able to regrow and replace itself. In contrast, synthetic fibres such as polyester and nylon are made using industrial processing of oil, which is a non-renewable fossil resource.

SOFTNESS : MERINO IS SOFT  

 Wearing a Merino garment next to your skin gives a wonderfully soft and comfortable tactile experience. Once you try Merino, you’ll never settle for anything less. Merino fibres typically used in next-to-skin apparel are around 17 to 23 micrometers in diameter and do not stimulate the skin nerve receptors in the same way coarser fibres do. Merino fibres are so fine that when pressed against the skin they simply bend, meaning there is no sensation of prickle, only softness.

ODOUR RESISTANT : MERINO KEEPS YOU FRESH   

Merino outperforms other fibres with its ability to resist the build-up of unpleasant odours. Odour molecules are absorbed into Merino fibre, effectively becoming trapped and less readily detected by the human nose. Odour molecules trapped within the fibre can then be removed during laundering. Often, all it takes is a little airing before your garment is ready to wear again. This means your garment doesn’t require as much washing and you and your garment stay fresher for longer.

THERMO REGULATION : MERINO HELPS YOU WORK HARDER   

Merino is a technical fibre that has the ability to control temperature and humidity. When a half Merino and half man-made fibre garment were trialled, these were the results [1]: The skin under the Merino side was drier. Skin wetness was perceived to be drier on the Merino side. The skin temperature was lower on the Merino side. Thermal comfort was perceived to be better on the Merino side. This means you will be able to exercise for longer and more comfortably when wearing Merino in both summer and winter conditions.

FLAMMABILITY : MERINO WON'T BURN  

 Merino will not catch fire, and will only smoulder for a brief moment. This is due to the natural chemical structure of wool, one that is high in both nitrogen and moisture. Merino is safer to wear due to its naturally flame resistant properties.

BIODEGRADATION : MERINO NATURALLY BIODEGRADES 

 Merino is basically a protein composed of amino acids, very much like our skin and hair. Amino acids are the building blocks of life. When you bury a wool product in soil under the right conditions, it will naturally biodegrade. In the process, it will release essential nutrients. Fossil fuel-based fibres such as nylon, polyester, acrylic, and spandex do not biodegrade. Ever. They get smaller and smaller until they become microplastics. Microplastics act as magnets for other nasty contaminants in the environment. A single microplastic can be up to a million times more toxic than the water around it.

RESILIENCE : MERINO IS SUPER STRONG 

 Merino has a natural crimp which contributes to its resilience performance. This wave-like structure provides a very soft and ‘springy’ handle. Even after frequent laundering, your Merino garment will retain its shape, colour and feel. Merino has excellent extensibility properties and can be extended by more than 30% of its length without breaking and in turn, can recover from extensions of approximately 20%.

MOISTURE MANAGEMENT : MERINO KEEPS YOU COMFORTABLE 

 The chemical structure of Merino fibre means that it has the ability to gain and release heat depending on the external and internal environment – thus buffering wearers against environmental changes – properties that are not shared by synthetic fibres such as nylon and polyester. As it absorbs moisture, Merino fibre releases a small, but perceptible amount of heat. In apparel or hosiery application, this prevents the wearer from chilling in wet, cool conditions. In hot conditions the reverse effect occurs, affording a natural means of buffering the body’s micro-climate.