For centuries, the wool of the Merino sheep has been prized for its softness and incredible fineness. Did you know that during the 15th century, Spanish merino wool was so sought after that Spain held an effective monopoly on the wool market? So much so that at one point it was illegal to export a merino sheep from la mancha without permission, punishable by death. Really.
Why is it so prized? And what makes it so valuable?
So with the cold finally hitting Sydney, it’s time to deep dive into the fabric best suited to the winter season – Superfine Merino Wool.
SHEEP DO IT BETTER.
Because of this evolutionary R&D across millennia, Merino is often referred to as ‘nature’s tech fabric’.
Cotton is versatile, easy to care for and comfortable which is why it’s become the de-facto standard for basics. But that doesn’t mean it's perfect and you might be surprised to learn that size (or in this case thickness) doesn’t always matter.
Merino sheep were bred to thrive in climates that range wildly in temperature and condition: from -15°C in NZ to +35°C in Australia. In order to survive, the sheep’s fleece evolved to be incredibly fine compared to other wools, giving it amazing temperature regulating properties that allowed the sheep to stay cool in summer and warm in winter.
Because of this evolutionary R&D across millennia, Merino is often referred to as ‘nature’s tech fabric’. Which is why our Superfine Merino can be substantially lighter than our heavyweight Organic Cotton (150GSM vs 180GSM), but also be warmer. How? Merino is such a great insulator because it traps a layer of air between your skin and the fabric which regulates temperature keeping you cooler in summer, and (much) warmer in winter. Add to this that fact that Merino fibres can naturally stretch up to 30% without breaking, which means that you can wear your Merino Tees tighter, keeping you even warmer.
And whether you run your base layers tight or not, another major benefit over cotton is wool’s natural moisture wicking ability. Merino Tees are far less humid and stuffy, while also staying dry for longer than cotton.
TL;DR if it works for the sheep, it'll work for you!
DESIGNED FOR TRAVEL.
The real benefit of travelling with merino is that you almost never need to wash it.
Wool has spent thousands of years learning how to take care of itself, making it surprisingly easy for you to care for your Tees and the perfect choice for travel basics as a result.
Because it’s lighter than most cotton, it's more space and weight efficient making it easier to pack. And unlike cotton, Merino can be folded and packed tightly without fear of creasing – due to its natural elastic properties, it’ll always bounce back into shape. Yep, Merino wool never needs ironing – hallelujah!
That’s nice, but the real benefit of travelling with merino is that you almost never need to wash it. Merino jersey retains some of the natural oils to make it both stain and odour repellant. With our Merino Tees you'll smell fresh for weeks at a time without washing, rotating between only two Tees – all you have to do is air out that one you're not wearing.
And if you do need to wash your Merino Tees, it can be easily done in the hotel sink and left to dry flat on a towel in the room, ready for the next day's adventures.
NATURALLY AUSTRALIAN.
The extra-long staple ewe's fleece makes a cloth that is softer, smoother and more resistant to pilling than regular merino.
So how does our Merino stand out from the bunch? To start with, it's our most local fabric, sourced exclusively from happy Australian sheep and knitted in Melbourne. How do we know the sheep are happy? Because we exclusively buy certified cruelty-free ‘non-mulesed’ wool which is also RWS certified.
Not all wools are created equal and our 'superfine' merino wool is only 17.5 microns thick. The extra-long staple ewe's fleece makes a cloth that is softer, smoother and more resistant to pilling than regular merino and feels like true luxury against the skin.
To put that into perspective: human hair is about 75 microns, and the scratchy, uncomfortable wool you remember from school weighs in at 30 microns.
ADMIRALTY BLUE MERINO
LIMITED ED. 160 PIECES FOR MEN + WOMEN.
MILITARY OLIVE MERINO
LIMITED ED. 160 PIECES FOR WOMEN + MEN.
