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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, fluffy and cosy feeling on the skin. Are you wondering what makes wool so special? Find out today what it can really do, how it is produced and what the hype surrounding merino wool is all about. What's more, we're not just reporting on its good qualities, but also shedding light on its downsides, especially those of merino wool. Pay attention, it's going to be really exciting!
By Pia Erichsen
September 28, 2023
How wool becomes yarn
After shearing, the wool is sorted by colour and quality and washed. In the cleaned fleece, all the fibres are wildly distributed, so it is loosened and combed. The wool can also be dyed at this stage. In the next step, the fibres are spun into a yarn. The uniform thread is created by drawing and twisting the individual short fibres together and is wound onto a ball or into a skein.
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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 and was only worn by privileged and wealthy citizens. Since Europe has been able to import sheep's wool from Australia and New Zealand, it has been available in large quantities and has thus become affordable for the general population. The shorn coat of sheep is also called fleece and consists of (1) the outer layer of hair, which is stiff and coarse and protects against the weather, and (2) the inner layer of hair, which is soft and fine and regulates body temperature. As a rule, sheep's wool is obtained from the inner hair. The fluffy feeling is created by the scaly outer layer of the hair and its crimp, which varies greatly depending on the breed. The more uniform the fibre structure, the better the quality of the clothing. In Germany, sheep are usually shorn once a year. On average, each sheep produces 3.5kg of wool, the value of which varies according to breed and age. Due to breeding, the amount has tripled.
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Why merino wool is not itchy
Merino sheep belong to the fine wool breed. Their hair is particularly fine, soft and very curly. The fibres of merino wool are only half as thick as conventional wool fibres and only a quarter as thick as human hair. The finer the wool fibres, the more they curl when they touch your skin. Merino fibres curl with up to 40 changes of direction per centimetre. As a result, the skin is significantly less irritated and there is no unpleasant itching. We perceive a fibre with a thickness of 25 micrometres or more as itchy. The Merion fibre is between 16.5 and 24 micrometres. Ordinary sheep's wool is much coarser and twice as thick; human hair has a diameter of around 30 to 80 micrometres.
What you should look out for when buying merino wool
At first glance, merino wool only seems to have advantages, but is that really the case? With all these great properties, one important question quickly fades into the background: where exactly does this miracle wool come from? Do you know anything about the term ‘mulesing’? If not, you must read on! We bring light into the darkness.
The big problem of mulesing
What many people don't realise is that the production of merino wool is often associated with great suffering for the animals. Merino sheep are bred to have many skin folds so that as much wool as possible can be obtained. This makes the sheep particularly susceptible to infestation by fly maggots. The flies lay their eggs in the skin folds in the anus and genital region, because it is warm, damp, dirty and poorly ventilated there. The hatched fly maggots eat into the sheep's tissue, causing severe inflammation and often death. To prevent this, the skin folds around the anus, vulva and tail of the lambs are cut out without anaesthetic. The scars are not treated further and are left to heal on their own. Wool no longer grows on the scar tissue and the area remains wrinkle-free so that flies cannot lay maggots.
Mulesing-free production
We at Comazo condemn such a procedure in the strongest possible terms and therefore rely on 100% mulesing-free products.
You should pay attention to this when buying merino wool
- Asks whether the wool was produced in Australia and whether the ‘museling’ process was used
- If there is no information about the production process, do not buy merino wool
- Demands transparency from all companies that offer products made from merino wool and have not yet provided any information
- Sign letters of protest and support campaigns against this process so that Australia also imposes a ban