FAQs

What makes New Zealand Merino wool so special?

The Merino is an ancient breed of sheep and the New Zealand ones live in the extremes of the stunning Southern Alps where the temperatures can get down to -15oC winter and up to 35oC in the summer. Their amazing fleece is the reason they can survive these extremes. It keeps them warm and dry in the winter and cool and comfortable in the summer.

It is nature’s miracle fibre, growing on the back of sheep and carries on growing even when we take it off them.

• The fine fibres don’t prickle or irritate and feel luxuriously soft on the skin.
• It is naturally breathable and regulates heat and moisture flows to and from your body just as nature designed it to do for the sheep, maintaining the body’s microclimate in changing conditions. As you heat up it picks up the moisture and releases it to the air. It can also absorb up to 35% of its own weight in moisture before it feels wet, leaving you feeling lovely and dry.
• Merino fibre has a hydrophilic (water loving) interior and a hydrophobic (water repelling) exterior. So, it absorbs perspiration without leaving you damp and uncomfortable. When damp it also releases a small amount of heat which prevents chilling. It will also repel showers! (What lucky sheep!)
• Merino is odour resistant (the fibres trap the odour molecules and only release them when washed.) This means less washing – good for you and good for the environment.
• Its crimped fibres give it natural elasticity to help retain the garment shape and trap air which insulates.
• It is flame resistant and self-extinguishing
• It is an efficient absorber of potentially harmful UV rays.
• Merino is renewable, sustainable and biodegradable – so when you have worn it out (which will take quite some time) you can bury it in your garden and it will become compost!
• Merino is easy care. The surface properties of Merino fibres mean that spills can be easily wiped away before they create a permanent stain. It is machine washable, won’t shrink or matt and dries quickly. (It can be tumble dried too if you really need to.)
• New Zealand doesn’t suffer from drought which means the growth of the fibres is very even giving them strength.
• The sheep are well looked after and are non – mulesed. (Mulesing is a surgical procedure that removes a section of skin from around the tail area of the sheep.)
• Just like the sheep you can wear your merino winter or summer.

All this makes our New Zealand merino knitwear a great choice for life – whether you are busy working or playing.

What size should I order?

Our Fine Merino garments have stretch in them and are designed to be a snug fit.
Below is a guide to bust measurements.
Measure your bust around the fullest part over your bra.

(To give you a guide - I wear Marks and Spencer size 10 and I wear our size 10 Merino tops.)

What does 200gsm mean?

200gsm(grams per square meter) is the weight of the fabric our knitwear is made of.

Merino knit fabric comes in different weights from around 150 gsm to around 300gsm and the weight used depends on the purpose. 150gsm is generally used for underwear and 300 would be used for heavier winter items.

Our fine 200 gsm is a lovely mid weight that is super flexible and suitable for wearing next to the skin on its own as outerwear or for stylish layering under other clothing or as a base layer for outdoor pursuits.

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