A question we often get... especially now that temperatures are finally starting to rise. And the answer is yes! Many people know merino wool as a warm layer to protect against winter cold. However, merino wool is also perfect for hot days!
There is so much to say about merino wool. The more you delve into it and zoom in on the wool fiber, the more technical it becomes. Below, we try to list all the features of this genius wool type as simply as possible. It gets a bit technical at times, but that's necessary to convey its brilliance. Meanwhile, it feels like part of our mission, to convince people to wear merino all year round, both summer and winter, because of its wonderful versatility and, above all, natural properties!
100% natural
First and foremost, we love wearing a material on our skin that is 100% natural. No synthetic fibers, no plastic, no harmful chemicals, and less chance of itching and irritations. Just soft merino wool on our skin season after season. Delightful.
Merino wool insulates against both cold and heat
Why does merino wool cool when it’s warm? Merino wool lets your skin breathe thanks to the ingenious structure of its fibers. The fibers consist of up to 85% air relative to their total volume. The fine and wavy fibers lie loosely together, forming air chambers in between. As air is a poor conductor of heat, it insulates extremely well - against cold as well as heat.
Natural air conditioning for your body
Our bodies have a natural air conditioning system: sweating. In warm temperatures or during intense physical activity, we sweat. Merino wool optimally supports this natural function, acting like a second skin that enhances the cooling effect. This is due to the insulating air cushions of the merino fibers and their high moisture absorption capacity.
Merino wool fibers can absorb a third of their weight in moisture when dry – much more than synthetic fibers, which absorb less than 10%. Their moisture management hasn't been matched by any synthetic textile fiber so far. Warm ambient air causes the moisture inside the fiber to evaporate on the garment's exterior. The evaporation process requires energy, which is taken from the nearest source – the merino fibers – in the form of heat. This cools the fibers, and consequently, the skin and body.
Compared to cotton or synthetic fibers, merino wool retains its beneficial properties even when moist. Unlike a cotton shirt, a merino shirt doesn’t stick unpleasantly to the skin when wet. You also won’t experience unpleasant chills in a sweaty merino wool garment.
Merino is odor-resistant and antibacterial
Merino wool resists odors because its natural fibers repel and neutralize bacteria that cause sweat odor, keeping your clothing fresh even on the hottest days or after intensive physical activity.
Merino wool fibers contain keratin and lanolin. Keratin, the same protein found in human hair and nails, absorbs and retains odors until the garment is washed, keeping you smelling fresh for longer. Lanolin, a natural waxy fat, has antibacterial properties, helping to inhibit the growth of odor-causing bacteria.
The unpleasant smell we often notice after sweating isn't from the sweat itself, which is odorless, but from skin bacteria breaking down the sweat. Sweat provides a breeding ground for bacteria, which thrive in warm, moist places like underarms. Naturally, sweat and skin bacteria also settle in our clothes, causing them to smell unpleasant over time. This is much less the case with merino wool garments.
Merino fibers have a scaly surface, unlike the smooth surface of synthetic materials, which gives bacteria no chance to settle. The fibers quickly absorb sweat, preventing bacteria from breaking it down. The water-repellent surface prevents the moist environment bacteria need to grow.
Moreover, wool fibers contain a specific fiber protein (keratin) that breaks down the bacteria responsible for bad odors. Merino wool thus has a long-lasting natural antibacterial effect, outperforming the silver ions used in synthetic fibers to reduce odors. But there's more! To perfect this effect, merino fibers also have a mechanical self-cleaning effect. The fiber core consists of two different cell types that absorb varying amounts of moisture. As they swell unevenly, a constant friction process occurs, continuously cleaning the fiber.
Merino requires less washing, dries quickly, and doesn’t wrinkle
While merino fibers can absorb relatively large amounts of moisture inside, their surface is water- and dirt-repellent. Lanolin, the wool fat covering the fiber surface, acts as a protective layer. Though much of it is washed out during wool processing, enough remains in the fibers. Due to the strong curl of the fibers, water droplets have a small attack surface and bead off easily, similar to certain plants that ensure water droplets slide off their fine surface hairs.
Want to know more about taking care of your merino knits? Check out this blog posts for some more care tips!
