Why is eh? increasingly relying on merino fibre
Merino is on everyone's lips, and there's a reason for that. At hä? we have many different products made from merino wool in our range. From hats , headbands , neck warmers to our own wool for crocheting yourself, you can find so many things made from merino in the hä? online shop . You can find interesting material combinations with us, such as a merino-cashmere mix or even products made from recycled PET and merino .
But why is Merino so unbeatably good?
Merino wool has become increasingly popular in recent years, especially among mountain sports enthusiasts in extreme situations. The reason for this is a few exceptional properties of merino wool:
- Regulates body temperature
- Transports moisture
- Doesn't stink
- Does not scratch
- Is easy to care for
- Is natural and biodegradable
- Has natural UV protection
- Retains fit and hardly wrinkles
Thermoregulation and insulating properties of merino fibre
Many people already know that merino wool is very warm and insulates well. But what does this mean exactly? Especially in the mountains, the thermoregulation and insulating properties of merino wool are an absolute must-have, because our bodies sweat when we exert ourselves in the mountains in order to cool down. Merino products support our bodies thanks to natural thermoregulation when cooling down. Merino fiber can absorb up to a third of its own weight in moisture in the form of water vapor. This water vapor helps with natural cooling. The best thing about this property is that the wearer can hardly feel it.
This is where the insulating ability comes into play. Merino fibers can contain up to 85 percent of their total volume as air. This air is warmed up by the body and stored in the merino fibers. Since air is a poor conductor of heat, the warm air stays in the chambers of the merino fibers and forms a kind of warm protective layer. As you can see, merino is an all-rounder because it cools in warm temperatures and warms in cold temperatures.
Comfort and odor neutrality of Merino
Another advantage of Merino products is that they don't smell and hardly scratch. The "Fine Merino wool" used by Hä? is about 20 microns thick. Considering that human hair is about 50-100 microns thick, the Merino fiber is extremely thin. Thanks to this property, Merino products (fine and ultrafine) can be worn directly on the skin without any concerns. There are of course sensitive people for whom Merino still itches or scratches a little. They suffer from an intolerance to wool wax (lanoling). In such cases, products made from a material mix are recommended, such as our Shepherd Beanie, consisting of Merino & Cashmere.
But why doesn't merino stink? The reason for this is the unique structure of the merino fiber. This is often compared to roof tiles. This makes it much harder for bacteria to stick to the fiber. In addition, as already described, the merino fiber stores moisture in the form of water vapor. This leads to a reduction in sweat overall and thus also in unpleasant odors. Merino is also called self-cleaning wool. This means that washing merino products several times is unnecessary. A rule of thumb is: it's better to air them than to wash them! If you still want to wash your favorite products, however, we definitely recommend hand washing them without fabric softener. And since the merino fiber dries quickly anyway, you should air dry the products.
How do I care for my Merino product properly?
Two major advantages of merino wool are due to its scaly structure. Firstly, it stays odor-free for a very long time and secondly, it has a self-cleaning effect. So it is usually sufficient to air the product regularly. If you do have to wash the item, the first thing to do is to read the care instructions on the product. Most products should be washed by hand, but some can be machine washed at a maximum temperature of 30 C and with a low spin speed. Most modern washing machines have a wool or delicates program that is well suited to merino, but only those that are suitable for machines. Whether by hand or in the machine, in both cases you should use a heavy-duty detergent without enzymes, as enzymes can damage the structure of the wool and holes can form. When hand-washing, you must also be careful not to rub or pull the item, as this would also cause damage. The item should be placed in a well-ventilated and shady place to dry.
Pure nature!
The properties mentioned above already show that merino fiber can do a lot. Merino products also have natural UV protection, are a natural raw material that grows back and are biodegradable without leaving any residues (100% merino products).
Have these features convinced you? Then discover our Merino collection from hä?
