Here at Textile Apparel, we love merino wool. But we realized that most people don’t actually know what merino wool is specifically. This article explains it all.
Before we get started, check out our video where we talk all about merino wool:
Starting with the basics about wool itself, Merino Wool is basically fancy sheep hair. Sheep hair is made up primarily of keratin - that’s the same stuff our human hair is made from, but it also has a bit calcium, sodium and lanolin, or fats in it. Those hairs also have a nice late ‘80s, early ‘90s crimp to them which allows them to have some elasticity and create an air barrier between you and the elements, keeping you warm (or cool) depending on your needs.
Where did merino wool come from?
While the term “merino wool” is has been popular as part of marketing wool clothing for the past 15 to 20 years, Merino Wool is not new with the earliest documentation about merino wool dating back to the 1400s. It originated from a breed of sheep called “Merino” that was bred and raised in Spain. The Spanish loved their merino sheep so much that it was illegal to export one until the 18th century.
Once merino sheep could be exported, they made their way to Sweden, France, the Netherlands, the United States as well as Australia and New Zealand and South Africa. Today, wool that is considered Merino Wool comes from at least nine different breeds of sheep who are descendant of the original merino sheep from Medieval Spain.
These days, the top three countries producing merino wool are China, Australia and New Zealand.
What makes merino wool so special and popular today, more than 600 years later?
First, when used for clothing, the finer merino hairs are used, making it softer than other wools at about 18 microns in diameter. For context, that’s about one fifth of the thickness of a sheet of regular office paper. Regular wool from other breeds of sheep come in nearly double that thickness.
But merino wool has some cool traits that paper doesn’t - It’s warm but also breathable.
Merino is one of the best textiles available for repelling odours. We’ve all gone for a run or workout in a synthetic t-shirt only to be repulsed by our own smell an hour later. Merino keeps its cool here because it actually absorbs some of your sweat and releases it as water vapour while the fats or lanolin in the wool are slippery to the bacteria that cause body odour and so they don’t stick to the wool. You end up drier and smelling reasonably fresh after that workout or presentation.
Next, merino wool has a natural stretch due to the crimped shape of the hairs and that also makes it less prone to wrinkles, keeping you looking great.
Another benefit of merino wool is its resistance to UV light. The average merino wool garment has a UPF rating of more than 50 plus, which is higher than cotton, polyester, linen, nylon and more. After all, you never see a sheep putting on sunscreen in the Australian sun.
Unfortunately, merino isn’t perfect
First off, some people feel that merino wool garments just aren’t as soft as cotton or some synthetics. The problem here is generally not you, but the manufacturer of the garment selling a product that is made from thicker, less expensive merino fibres. It’s still merino, but it’s not the best quality available. Please, try on any merino wool garment before purchasing to see how you feel in it. We want you to love it!
Next, merino wool is more expensive than most other fibres on the market, save for more traditionally luxurious products such as cashmere. I believe merino wool garments are great value if you can afford them for the tangible benefits they have over many other fibres.
Merino wool also has a reputation for not being as durable as other fibres. AKA, it gets holes easily. This can be true and you need to take a bit of extra care with merino garments when laundering them - always follow the care label but also keep in mind that merino wool can be laundered less frequently than cotton, linen and certainly that stinky polyester. Laundering merino wool frequently and with chemical detergents can also strip the fibres of some of their nutrients, making the fibres more brittle and making them feel less comfortable. When in doubt, ask us in-store and we’re happy to help.
Another way some manufacturers work to improve the durability of merino wool garments is to blend them with stronger fibres such as nylon. But watch out for “Merino Marketing”. This is a trend, particularly at discount and warehouse stores that sell products using massive “Merino” lettering on the packaging. Always check the label to see how much merino wool is actually in there otherwise you’ll end up paying a premium for a product with no benefits.
In Summary
Merino wool has been documented to have been around for about 600 or so years. It’s fibres are finer and more crimped than traditional wool resulting in softness, warmth, breathability, odour resistance and excellent UV protection. If you take good care of your merino wool garments, they’ll take great care of you.
Want merino now?
Check out products from our Canadian brands like DInadi and Milo & Dexter.
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