Merino: this simple word is enough to transport us to a world of softness. A natural material from the breeding of alpine sheep, merino wool is known for being incredibly pleasant to wear. Extra-fine, the fiber is no less warm and represents a clever choice for making durable pieces.
If you are not yet convinced (it won't be long), we give you 5 good reasons to wear merino wool and we present our essential sweaters of the season in this exceptional material.
Where does merino wool come from?
Merino wool is a 100% natural material, coming from shearing the wool of the merino sheep of the same name, originally from Spain. Today, the majority of merino sheep live in Australia, New Zealand, South America or South Africa. These sheep can be sheared a maximum of twice a year, making this wool rare and valuable. Merino fibers have a thickness of between 16.5 and 24 micrometers (for comparison: human hair is approximately 30 micrometers thick.). Three times finer than traditional wool, merino wool does not itch and envelops you in softness .
5 good reasons to wear merino wool
A thermoregulatory and insulating material, ideal for all seasons
Merino wool is known for its thermoregulatory properties. In other words, it keeps you warm in winter and cools in summer. How does it work? Merino wool fibers capture small “air cushions”, which allow them to store body heat, providing thermal insulation suitable for each season. Another strong point, merino wool fibers naturally regulate humidity . Wool can absorb up to 35% of its own weight in moisture, without appearing damp. Precisely because it is thermoregulatory and therefore breathable, merino wool limits the appearance of odors and reduces perspiration. All these qualities are linked to the fact that merino wool is a 100% natural fiber, of animal origin, which knows how to find the right balance between ambient and body temperature – as it does very well on the backs of sheep outdoors for protect them.
Thanks to these technical and versatile properties, merino wool is today widely used for making sports clothing or first layers, to be worn under clothing. Merino wool is obviously also a material of choice for making high-end pieces, such as shirts, sweaters or pants. It allows you to “replace” synthetic materials with a natural alternative, while offering comfort and style.
A soft and comfortable material
Wool that doesn't itch? It's possible with merino. If merino wool is so pleasant to wear, it is largely thanks to its fineness : the finer the fiber, the softer it is. Also, natural wool fibers are covered with scales. Scales which, for merino wool, are not open. Merino wool is then worn next to the skin, without risk of irritation or scratching sensation. Very soft sweater effect guaranteed!
A natural, biodegradable and recyclable material
Coming exclusively from sheep shearing, merino wool is by definition a 100% natural and renewable material. Part of “eco-responsible textiles” , wool is biodegradable and easily recyclable. In fact, natural materials are the easiest to recycle, because they are simple to “defibrate”. Recycling wool makes it possible to make new clothes from existing fibers or fabrics. This technique thus promotes the circular economy, and limits CO₂ emissions linked to the manufacture of new clothing.
Encouraging this approach, we offer you sweaters in 100% recycled extrafine wool for the fall-winter season.
A material produced with respect for animal welfare
Merino wool is one of the rare materials of animal origin whose production is beneficial for the animal, since the sheep's fur does not shed naturally and its shearing allows it to remain in good health. However, if open-air breeding is a priori respectful of animal life, there remain barbaric practices linked to sheep breeding, including Mulesing. Mulesing is a preventive measure which aims to prevent the appearance of myiasis (subcutaneous presence of fly larvae) in sheep by removing the skin around their tail. Myiasis endangers the health of the sheep and therefore harms the quality of its wool and its yield – which explains why breeders want to avoid it in order to preserve the quality of the wool at all costs.
If the practice of Mulesing is banned in Europe, it is still used in Australia. To counter this, all of our merino wool pieces are certified Mulesing free .
Easy maintenance
A quality material, merino wool is very easy to maintain despite popular belief. To avoid damaging or shrinking a wool garment, it is recommended to wash it by hand or in the machine in delicate mode, at 30°C maximum, with a special wool detergent. When drying, you should never wring or twist a wool piece, as this risks permanently deforming it. The ideal is to dry your garment flat (and not on a hanger), in the open air.
Our sweaters in 100% merino wool
So that winter rhymes with a feeling of softness , we can never advise you enough to wrap yourself in a sweater made from a natural, noble and durable material, like merino wool.
This season, we present two models in merino wool: a turtleneck sweater and a polo neck sweater. They are both very thin, slipping easily into layering under a jacket, a coat or over a shirt, but ensure you have warm days, with a “second skin” effect.
Available in bright, contemporary tones, in navy and pine green, our turtleneck model blends perfectly with your wardrobe of essentials, such as jeans, pleated flannel pants or over a checked shirt. It can be worn alone, but it's also thin enough to slip over a t-shirt. It brings a touch that is both casual and refined to the silhouette in complete discretion.
Coming back to our topic, merino wool is one of our favorite materials to wear in winter. Warm, soft, comfortable, natural, fluid, resistant, ecological and easy to maintain (is that more than 5?): so many good reasons to adopt it without delay.
