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Merino: everything you need to know

What should you wear underneath Merino? Is Merino wool really that good? And how long can you wear Merino clothing for? Here you’ll find the most important information about clothes made from Merino wool.

Origins of Merino wool

Origins of Merino wool

Merino sheep originate from North Africa. Nowadays, they’re found in Australia and – especially – in New Zealand, but also in South America and South Africa. In the mountains, they have to withstand temperatures ranging from -20 to +35 degrees. The breed copes well with such temperature fluctuations – and that’s partly because of its high-quality wool. This high-quality wool then leads to high-quality clothing. The structure of the wool has adapted to handle major changes in temperature: it keeps you warm when it’s cold and cool when it’s warm.

Some farms practice something called mulesing. This entails flaps of skin around the sheep’s tail being removed to prevent flystrike, often without anaesthesia. This practice is banned in New Zealand, but not in Australia; the flies in question did not previously exist in South Africa and South America. Transa does not stock products created with the use of mulesing.

Key properties of Merino wool

Key properties of Merino wool

Close-up and cross-section illustration of a merino fibre.

Merino fibres are only about half as thick as a human hair, which is why the wool feels particularly soft.

Photo © Flurina Schuler

A) Scales: these ensure that moisture is drawn away from the skin. They also give merino wool its soft feel.

B) Outer layer: water-repellent and durable layer. It makes the fibre tear-resistant.

C) Inner fibres: trap moisture and thus regulate temperature.

D) Crimp: traps air and thus stores heat and makes merino wool elastic.

Disadvantages of Merino wool clothing

Disadvantages of Merino wool clothing

The fine Merino wool fibres have many perks – but also one drawback: friction can damage Merino fabric relatively quickly. Manufacturers prevent this by mixing it with other, more robust fibres. This is particularly important with socks, because they are exposed to a lot of friction in your shoes. Modal/Tencel, polyester or nylon are often added to Merino underwear, which also ensures a comfortable feel.

Clothing made from synthetic fabrics is usually a little cheaper than Merino clothing. However, these garments differ from Merino clothing in terms of comfort and insulation.

Garments made of Merino need to be washed less due to their self-cleaning abilities. However, they are more demanding to look after. You can find key tips here.

The right way to look after Merino wool

The right way to look after Merino wool

Merino wool is comparatively demanding to look after. Like other fine fabrics, it’s best to wash Merino garments in a laundry bag so that they don’t get caught in a zip or Velcro. Make sure you use the right detergent. Special detergents are available, but their conventional counterparts are also suitable. It’s important that your detergent does not contain fabric softeners, bleach or the enzyme protease. The latter is added to detergents to remove protein stains from clothing. However, it can also damage the protein molecules of the Merino fibres, meaning that the garment could wear out faster. In addition, improper care causes the fibres to swell, the clothing to lose its shape and/or the fibres to felt.

Be sure to follow your garment’s care label and wash it according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

The following tips will help:

  • Wash as much as necessary and as little as possible. Merino fibres, in particular, are self-cleaning. That’s why you don’t have to wash your clothes often. When you’re out and about, you can just hang them out in the fresh air. You can wash synthetic thermal underwear more often; it will keep its shape for longer due to the synthetic fibres (which are usually recycled).

  • Use the right care product. There are special detergents for Merino products.

  • Wash carefully (max. 30–40 °C). You should ideally wash synthetic fibres with your underwear. And if you’re washing Merino, it’s just like washing your hair – after all, it’s the hair of the Merino sheep. Don’t wash it at overly hot temperatures and treat it with care.

  • Wash like with like.

  • Don’t tumble dry, don’t iron. Just hang your thermal underwear out to dry.

Recognising high-quality Merino products

Recognising high-quality Merino products

Merino clothing tends to be slightly more expensive than synthetic products. That’s why it’s worth buying high-quality garments that last a long time. The following tips will help you identify a high-quality product:

  • Check the seams: is everything stitched neatly? Do the seams run straight along the edges of the fabric and enclose them?

  • Read the labels – ZQ Merino and the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) are particularly important.

  • Check the blend of materials used in your garment. It may well be labelled Merino, but only a small proportion of it is actually Merino wool. While a 100% Merino garment regulates temperature well and reduces odours, it is less stable than a garment containing other fibres. That’s why you should also consider which properties of Merino wool are particularly important to you. Merino wool should make up at least 40% of the material blend.

  • Invest in a piece of clothing that you can wear for lots of activities and maybe even in day-to-day life.

Answers to frequently asked questions about Merino

Answers to frequently asked questions about Merino

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