Cool Wool: Why Wear Merino In Summer

Wool is not a yarn usually synonymous with summer. In the warmer months of the year, as the temperature rises, we tend to reach for light and airy fabrics like cotton and linen to keep us cool and comfortable. Yet with its intelligent thermo-regulating properties and moisture-wicking abilities, merino wool is an incredibly versatile yarn that adapts to your body's needs.
 
Widely regarded as nature's performance fabric, merino comes from the fleece of merino sheep. Evolved to protect the sheep against extreme temperatures, it has incredible insulating properties to keep them warm on colder days and adapts to keep them cool on hot days. Because it is a natural, renewable fibre that eventually will biodegrade, it causes less harmful environmental impact than synthetic fibres.
 
In this article, we explore the benefits of merino wool and why it might just be the perfect choice of fabric for the summer.
 

 
 
The Benefits of Wearing Merino In Summer
 

The natural properties of merino make it an incredibly comfortable yarn to wear during the summer. From its ability to wick moisture away from the skin to its breathability, the inherent properties of merino have evolved naturally over thousands of years to protect the sheep from the elements and allow them to withstand extreme temperatures. Learn more about what makes merino so comfortable to wear as the temperature rises.

 
Thermo-regulating
 
Arguably, merino's most intelligent natural property is its ability to adapt to your body's temperature. Due to this thermo-regulation, merino helps you stay warm, acting as an insulating layer on a cold day. While during the summer months, merino adapts to keep you feeling cool.
 
 
Breathable
 
Merino is incredibly breathable fibres. Its natural moisture-wicking ability means that perspiration will be absorbed by its long fibres and moved away from your skin to evaporate, keeping you feeling dry and comfortable.
 
 
Low Maintenance
 
Merino wool fibres have a natural crimped texture, giving them a natural crease and outer layer that prevents stains from being absorbed, perfect for long travel days. Merino also has the ability to neutralise odours, meaning it needs less regular washing than synthetic materials or more absorbant fabrics like cotton. This makes merino ideal for capsule wardrobes staples you can wear on repeat while travelling too!
 
 
UV Protection
 
Having evolved to protect sheep, merino provides natural protection from the sun. Thanks to its ability to absorb UV radiation, merino offers some natural protection from sun damage, perfect for sunny days outdoors.
 
 
Skin-friendly
 
Thanks to its long fine fibres, merino is exceptionally soft and skin-friendly, gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin. Recent research has demonstrated that the finest yarn weights, like superfine merino, can actually significantly improve the severity and symptoms of chronic skin conditions like eczema.
 

 
Our Extra Fine Merino and Merino Silk Blend Yarns
 
Our extra merino is sourced from two of Italy's finest and oldest mills, Zegna Baruffa (Est. 1850) and Lanerossi (Est. 1817). Their world-renowned extra fine merino yarn is made using the fleece of sheep reared in New Zealand and Australia. Famed for their exceptionally soft fleece, only the finest fibres are selected during the spinning process to create a yarn that is industry-leading and of unbeatable quality. We then knit each piece using a 12-gauge Japanese technology to create a luxuriously soft, lightweight fabric at our family-owned factory in India.
 
Our Italian-spun extra fine merino and merino silk blend is sourced from industry favourites Papi Fabio (Est. 1890). We use a 16-gauge knitting machine to knit the blend of 70% ultra-fine merino wool and 30% silk, creating an incredibly fine fabric. The long fibre length of silk gives this merino blend an even smoother, more luxurious finish, which feels soft and comfortable. This extremely long fibre length also enhances the natural strength and elasticity of the yarn.
 
Knitted using fine, worsted-spun fibres, our extra fine merino and merino silk blend knitwear are luxuriously soft and lightweight. Thanks to their thermo-regulating properties, they feel cool and comfortable on hot summer days. As evenings become crisper and the autumn weather arrives, they add a touch of warmth to your outfit, allowing you to transition your wardrobe for the new season as summer fades.