The Merino sheep is one of the oldest breeds of sheep in the world, and definitely the toughest. Tufte only uses wool from farms that do not practice mulesing. Here you can read more about merino wool and its benefits.
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Wool in Nature
Where ordinary sheep graze and enjoy themselves in the lowlands, most merino sheep live high up in the southern Alps of New Zealand, through scorching summers and freezing winters. Due to the incredible and completely natural construction of the wool, the sheep can survive extreme conditions. The Merino sheep's summer wool stays cool in temperatures up to +35 °C. In winter, the merino sheep can grow an extra layer of wool over the bottom layer to protect against temperatures down to -20 °C.
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GOOD PROPERTIES OF WOOL
Merino wool has many wonderful properties; it is super light, soft, does not get sticky, retains heat in the cold and is cooling in the heat, and has anti-odor properties. The wool is naturally renewable, recyclable and degradable. No merino wool has been developed in a lab or modified in any way. All the wool is handpicked to ensure high quality.
Wool at Tufte Wear
SOFTNESS
Softness is an important quality in all our clothes. Most of our clothes are inner layers that are to be worn directly against the skin. Since the skin is the body's largest organ, large parts of the skin will come into direct contact with the clothes. It is therefore important that all clothing and materials are soft enough to ensure good comfort.
Wool fibers are measured for softness and fineness on the micron scale. The lower the micron, the softer the fabric. Merino is one of the softest fibers on this scale, which means it is not only warm but also incredibly comfortable against the skin. We always use wool with 18.5 microns or lower in our clothes, defined as "superfine wool", to guarantee a soft and comfortable experience.
MULESING
We only use wool from farms that do not engage in mulesing. Rather than this brutal surgical procedure, the farmers simply choose to wash the sheep's rear instead. This simple move saves the animals from unnecessary pain and discomfort. We are happy to use wool from sheep that are doing well.
MOISTURE CONTROL
"Wicking" is a fabric's ability to absorb moisture away from the body and transport it out into the air. For clothes that are worn directly on the skin, this is an important factor and can help increase comfort and function. The merino fiber has natural wicking ability, and absorbs water from the skin and helps the body to stay warm and maintain a comfortable body temperature. Merino can absorb up to 35% of its own weight in water before it starts to feel wet. This is much higher than most synthetic fibers on the market.
WOOL CUTTING
Once a year the merino sheep is sheared. This usually happens between August and November, to ensure they still have their warm woolen coats during the cold winter months. The person responsible for the shearing leaves a good amount of wool on the sheep to keep them warm. The shearing is not only to harvest wool, it is also important to keep the animals comfortable. The Merino sheep can sample a large amount of wool, which can lead to a reduced field of vision and that they can be very uncomfortable during hot summers.
