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 comfortable to wear. Extra-fine, the fiber is nonetheless warm and represents a clever choice for making durable pieces.
If you're not yet convinced (it won't be long), we'll give you 5 good reasons to wear merino wool and we'll 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 the shearing of 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, which makes this wool rare and precious. Merino fibers have a thickness of between 16.5 and 24 micrometers (for comparison: human hair is about 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 thermoregulating 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 cool in summer. How does it work? Merino wool fibres capture small “air cushions”, which allow them to store body heat, providing thermal insulation adapted to each season. Another strong point, merino wool fibres 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 odours and reduces perspiration. All these qualities are linked to the fact that merino wool is a 100% natural fibre, 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 to protect them.
Thanks to these technical and versatile properties, merino wool is now widely used for making sportswear 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's largely thanks to its fineness : the finer the fiber, the softer it is. Also, natural wool fibers are covered with scales. Scales that, for merino wool, are not open. Merino wool can then be worn next to the skin, without the risk of irritation or a scratchy sensation. A 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. As part of "eco-responsible textiles" , wool is biodegradable and easily recyclable. Indeed, natural materials are the easiest to recycle, because they are simple to "defiber". Recycling wool thus 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 clothes.
Encouraging this approach, we offer you for the fall-winter season sweaters made from 100% recycled extra-fine wool.
A material produced with respect for animal welfare
Merino wool is one of the few animal-based materials whose production is beneficial to the animal, since the sheep's fur does not fall out naturally and shearing it allows it to stay healthy. However, while free-range farming is in principle respectful of animal life, there are still barbaric practices linked to sheep farming, including Mulesing. Mulesing is a preventive measure that aims to avoid the appearance of myiasis (subcutaneous presence of fly larvae) in sheep by removing the skin around their tails. Myiasis endangers the health of the sheep and therefore harms the quality of its wool and its yield - which is why farmers want to avoid it in order to preserve the quality of the wool at all costs.
While the practice of Mulesing is banned in Europe, it is still in use in Australia. In order to oppose this, all of our merino wool pieces are certified Mulesing free .
Easy maintenance
A quality material, merino wool is very easy to care for despite popular belief. To avoid damaging or shrinking a wool garment, it is recommended to wash it by hand or in the machine on a delicate setting, at 30°C maximum, with a special wool detergent. When drying, never wring or twist a wool item, as this could permanently deform it. The ideal is to dry your garment flat (and not on a hanger), in the open air.
Our 100% merino wool sweaters
To make winter rhyme 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 fine, slipping easily into layering under a jacket, a coat or a shirt, but ensure you warm days, with a "second skin" effect.
Available in bright and contemporary tones, in navy and fir 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 is also thin enough to slip on over a t-shirt. It brings a touch of both casual and refined to the silhouette in all discretion.
To get back to our sheep, 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.
