Frau trägt Merinowolle-Outfit und steht auf einer Wiese, umgeben von einer Schafherde

The truth about merino wool

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “wool”? We immediately think of a warm, soft and cozy feeling on the skin.

Are you wondering what makes wool so special? Find out what it can really do, how it is produced and what the hype surrounding merino wool is all about.

We not only highlight its advantages, but also take a closer look at its downsides – especially when it comes to merino wool.

By Pia Erichsen
September 28, 2023

In verführerischem Rot, mit Spitze oder in Basic-Nude Tönen: Damenunterwäsche kommen in allen Größen, Formen und Materialien. Viele haben jedoch eine Gemeinsamkeit: die kleine Schleife an der Vorderseite der Unterwäsche. Wir nehmen Dich mit auf eine Reise in die Vergangenheit und klären Dich auf, weshalb das kleine Accessoire schon vor hundert Jahren an genau der gleichen Stelle saß, denn sie ist nicht einfach nur ein Aufhübscher von Unterwäsche, sondern auch ein historisches Überbleibsel von wichtiger Bedeutung.

Die Wurzeln der Tradition stammen aus unelastischen Tagen, als Frauenunterwäsche nicht in bequemen, dehnbaren Stoffen produziert wurden. Damenslips wurden vorne mit einem Band, das durch Ösen gefädelt wurde, zusammengehalten und statt eines Knotens banden die Frauen eine Schleife, die Unterhose konnte also so fest angezogen werden, bis sie perfekt passte. Durch das binden des Bändchens entstand ganz einfach das niedliche Detail, welches noch eine weitere Funktion erfüllt: Früher mussten die Frauen früh und bei Dunkelheit aufstehen, die Schleife diente dabei als Orientierung, um den Damenslip richtig herum anzuziehen. Heutzutage hat das süße Detail nur noch einen dekorativen Zweck, jedoch sollte die Geschichte dahinter nicht vergessen werden.

What is wool actually?

Briefly explained: Wool refers primarily to the soft hair of sheep. There is also wool from goats, camels, Angora rabbits and other animals.

It is a natural product obtained by shearing and then spun into yarn. Wool is considered one of the best and healthiest raw materials for textiles and is used in many different ways.

Important: If your clothing is labeled “wool”, this simply means it is made from pure wool. The label does not provide any information about origin or quality.

How wool becomes yarn

After shearing, the wool is sorted by color and quality and then washed.

In the cleaned fleece, the fibers are initially disordered, so they are loosened and combed. At this stage, the wool can also be dyed.

In the next step, the fibers are spun into yarn. A uniform thread is created by drawing and twisting the short fibers together.

Finally, the yarn is wound into a ball or a skein.

Positive

It warms when it is cold It
Cools when it is warm
It is dirt-repellent
It is particularly lightweight with high thermal performance
It is resistant to unpleasant odours
It has natural UV protection
It is breathable
It absorbs moisture
It is elastic
It does not crease
It does not become electrostatically charged
It is flame retardant

Negative

It can shrink easily when washed
It can be scratchy on sensitive skin
Pilling and fluffing may occur
It is susceptible to moths
It has a low tear resistance

The popular sheep's wool

Until the 19th century, wool was a precious material worn mainly by privileged and wealthy people. With imports from Australia and New Zealand, it became widely available and more affordable.

The shorn coat of sheep is called fleece and consists of two layers: an outer layer that is coarse and protective, and an inner layer that is soft and helps regulate body temperature.

Typically, sheep's wool is obtained from the finer inner fibers. The characteristic softness is created by the scaly structure and natural crimp of the fibers, which varies depending on the breed.

In Germany, sheep are usually shorn once a year. On average, each sheep produces around 3.5 kg of wool, although this varies depending on breed and age.

Zwei Frauen tragen Merinowolle-Wäsche im Vordergrund, Im Hintergrund befinden sich Schafe

Why merino wool is not itchy

Merino sheep belong to the fine wool breed. Their fibers are particularly fine, soft and highly crimped.

Merino wool fibers are about half as thick as conventional wool fibers and much finer than human hair. The finer the fibers, the more they bend when they come into contact with the skin.

Merino fibers can change direction up to 40 times per centimeter. This reduces skin irritation and prevents the typical itchy feeling.

Fibers thicker than 25 micrometers are usually perceived as itchy. Merino wool typically ranges between 16.5 and 24 micrometers, while human hair has a diameter of around 30 to 80 micrometers.

What you should look out for when buying merino wool

At first glance, merino wool seems to offer only advantages – but is that really the case? With all these benefits, one important question often fades into the background: where does this “miracle wool” actually come from?

Have you heard of the term “mulesing”? If not, read on – we shed light on the issue.

The big problem of mulesing

What many people don’t realize is that the production of merino wool is often associated with significant animal suffering. Merino sheep are bred to have many skin folds in order to increase wool yield.

This makes them vulnerable to flystrike. Flies lay their eggs in warm, moist skin folds, and the hatched larvae can cause severe infections – often fatal.

To prevent this, skin folds are sometimes removed from lambs without anesthesia. The wounds heal into scar tissue where no wool grows, reducing the risk of infestation.