What is Merino Wool?
It's Natural
What is Merino wool made of? Proteins are composed of amino acids and natural compounds. Merino wool is a natural, renewable fiber—meaning one sheep can grow four to five pounds of wool per year. Plus, this fiber has evolved over the years to keep sheep comfortable in harsh environments. These happy animals hang out in temperatures that range from 5 degrees to 95 degrees—no problem. It’s a pretty amazing fiber.
It Helps Regulate Body Temperature
What is Merino wool really good at? Helping keep your body at a stable temperature. When it’s cold outside, the natural crimps and bends in its fibers trap air, insulating you. When it’s warm outside, it transports sweat quickly away from the skin, helping to keep you cool and dry.
It Helps Keep You Dry and Sweat-Free
This benefit of wool gets a bit technical—so bear with us. Merino wool transports sweat and moisture away from the skin as a vapor. Merino fibers are inherently porous. They’re composed of little plates that moisture vapor can get in between—meaning you're not left feeling wet, cold, and clammy after a workout. Synthetic fabrics are not porous. They usually wick sweat when it’s already a liquid, and then your body has to heat it up to evaporate it—making you feel clammy in colder weather. Merino takes a step out of the process, which helps you stay warm and dry when you’re moving and playing outdoors.
Capes were common in medieval Europe, especially when combined with a hood in the chaperon. They have had periodic returns to fashion for example, in nineteenth-century Europe. Roman Catholic clergy wear a type of cape known as a ferraiolo, which is worn for formal events outside a ritualistic context. The cope is a liturgical vestment in the form of a cape. Capes are often highly decorated with elaborate embroidery. Capes remain in regular use as rainwear in various military units and police forces, in France for example. A gas cape was a voluminous military garment designed to give rain protection to someone wearing the bulky gas masks used in twentieth-century wars. Rich noblemen and elite warriors of the Aztec Empire would wear a tilmàtli; a Mesoamerican cloak/cape used as a symbol of their upper status. Cloth and clothing were of utmost importance to the Aztecs. The more elaborate and colorful tilmàtlis were strictly reserved for elite high priests, emperors; and the Eagle warriors as well as Jaguar knights.
How is Merino wool made?
Australian woolgrowers produce the world’s finest wool from Merino sheep using sustainable farming practices. Unlike synthetics which are industrially produced from non-renewable fossil energy, Merino wool is a natural fiber grown year-round by Merino sheep, consuming a simple blend of natural ingredients including sunshine, water, fresh air, and grass. Every year these sheep produce new fleece, making wool a completely renewable fiber.
Arguably the oldest-known animal fiber, wool is composed of a natural protein called keratin - the same protein found in human hair - with a small amount of calcium, sodium, and fat. The surface of each fiber is covered in scales, which are important in making felts and traditional woolen cloths.
Different types of wool
Not all wool is the same. Some wool is softer than cashmere, while others are hardier and more resilient, suitable for carpets and bedding. Wool can be divided into three main categories, based on the micron (diameter) of each fiber. One micron is equal to one-millionth of a meter and fiber length is recorded in millimeters – these are the main measurements that determine the quality and use of the wool.
Fine: Wool with the finest micron comes from Merino sheep and is used for high-quality, soft-handling fabrics and knitting yarns. Fine wool is highly valued by the world’s leading fashion houses and is the hero ingredient of many Woolmark collaborations.
Medium: Medium micron wool can be produced from a type of Merino or produced by crossing one breed with another (crossbreeding). Medium wools are used in a variety of woven apparel cloths, knitting yarns, and furnishings.
Broad: Many different sheep breeds produce broader wools. Often these breeds are known as dual-purpose breeds because they are farmed with equal emphasis on meat and wool. Broad wool is useful for products such as carpets because of its strength and durability
The average micron of human hair is between 50 to 100 microns. Merino wool is generally less than 22 microns, which shows just how soft this premium fiber is.
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