Suitable
Benefits of Merino Wool
Merino wool is the fleece of the merino sheep. This breed originally comes from Spain, although it only became world-famous later. During the Moorish occupation in the eighth century it was crossbred with other types of sheep, and in the sixteenth century the Spanish spread the breed across the rest of the world. Merino sheep are built to survive in mountainous areas: their warm, dense fleece protects them against cold, wind and rain, and you get exactly those properties back in the wool.
Types of merino wool
There are several types of merino sheep, including an Australian variety without horns. Australian merino wool is known as the softest and most flexible sheep's wool in the world and is even valued more highly than the Spanish. A merino sheep yields an average of 4.5 kilos of wool a year. After washing, around 60% of that remains, because raw wool is full of dirt, sweat and lanolin and therefore loses a lot of weight before yarn can be spun from it. Merino wool does keep its shape and elasticity after washing, which contributes to its lifespan.
Properties of merino wool
Merino wool is considerably finer than regular sheep's wool: the fibres are about half as thick. It's exactly that fineness that makes the wool feel silky soft and not itchy on the skin, which makes merino wool suitable for people with sensitive skin. There's also a natural layer of lanolin on the fibre, which keeps the wool fresh for a long time. The material is also exceptionally breathable. That's why merino wool feels like a second skin: comfortable, temperature-regulating and odour-resistant, all year round.