Blogs
Why Premium Merino Wool Matters — The Must-Know Facts Before Your Next Knitwear Investment
In this guide we’ll explore what sets premium merino wool knitwear apart, how to spot the best pieces, and how you can build a wardrobe of timeless staples rather than fast-fashion fads.
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Pack Smart with Merino & Co: 7 Must-Pack Merino Pieces for Travel
By choosing Australian merino travel essentials, you reduce the need for excess luggage and simplify your travel wardrobe. Each Merino & Co piece works hard, keeping you stylish, comfortable, and ready for any adventure — all while treading lightly on the planet.
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What is Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)?
What is Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)? How does it combat waste? How does EPR connect to wool? With EPR policies fast approaching, it’s time to consider these questions and what they mean for producers, brands and businesses.
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What does Carbon Sequestration mean in the context of fashion?
The fashion industry significantly contributes to excess atmospheric carbon, contributing to climate change. But did you know that wool sequesters carbon? Organic carbon makes up 50% of the weight of wool and is part of the natural carbon cycle. The carbon stored in wool comes from sheep digesting plant materials that capture carbon from the atmosphere. Wool stores or sequesters carbon in a wearable form for the lifetime of a wool garment, and at the end of the garment’s life, the wool fibre can biodegrade and return to the soil to release valuable nutrients back into the earth. Curious about wool and the carbon cycle? Learn more in our fact sheet available for download: https://ow.ly/jQHC50SmWAJ
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Ever wondered how your knitwear gets made?
In a perfect partnership of age-old technique and fresh innovation, wool is easily transformed from raw material into functional knitwear. Learn how it works here: https://ow.ly/1ree50PeMmY blob:https://www.youtube.com/de6061c7-ae21-46a6-aef4-69de7c73e453
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Why does Australia wear green and gold in the Olympics?
The 2024 Paris Olympics officially begin on Friday, July 26 with an Opening Ceremony featuring a breathtaking river parade on the Seine. Team Australia will be among the 10,500 athletes, representing 206 countries competing, with around 120 heads of state among those cheering them on. With Australia looking great in uniform as they make themselves at home in the athletes’ village, Aussie fans are asking; why does Australia don the green and gold for sporting events? To celebrate Australia making its mark at the Olympics, we are taking a look at the history of our Olympic uniform - and how the green and gold began. Team Australia in green and gold While green and gold had been popularly embraced as the nation’s sporting colours since the late 1800s, it wasn’t until 1984 that they were formally recognised as the national colours by Governor General, Sir Ninian Stephen. Before this, our nation colours had been red, white and blue, reflecting our national flag and the first version of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms, and blue and gold, the colour of the wreath in the Commonwealth Coat of Arms. Australia’s national colours and Indigenous heritage are proudly on display in the uniforms designed by Asics, Sportscraft and Speedo for the 460 athletes who will represent the country in the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics. Each garment and accessory from the 2024 Olympic uniform features the green and gold colour scheme and incorporates an Indigenous print, making this the largest integration of Indigenous artwork on athlete uniforms in Australian Olympic history. The symbolism of our national colours The hues of green and gold have endured. They are symbolic and closely tied to Australia’s unique environment: as well as wattle, the gold conjures images of Australia’s golden sands and sunshine. Green evokes the forests, eucalyptus trees and pastures of the Australian landscape. Much like Team Australia, this winning colour combination also forms the palette of Australia’s Nation Brand, in which the national colours are reimagined to reflect our country’s premium goods and services. At its centre is the golden kangaroo - globally recognised as Australian – and bounding ahead with momentum. Co-created with Indigenous designers, Balarinji, the Brand elements are embedded with a cultural richness that speaks distinctively of Australia. Proudly Australian owned and made, Merino & Co is proud to showcase our Aussie pride when promoting our premium merino wool products overseas.
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Machine Washable Wool Fabric
Peer-reviewed research confirms that wool fibres are biodegradable in marine environments. Moreover, the study supports that polyamide resin (Hercosett) used in machine washable wool treatments doesn’t contribute to microplastic pollution. How do we know this? The research examined samples from lightweight base-layer fabrics made from six fibre types, including Merino wool (both machine washable and untreated), viscose rayon and three synthetic fibres. “This study adds to the growing body of scientific evidence recommending more natural, non-synthetic materials like wool in global textile markets,” says Angus Ireland, Program Manager at Australian Wool Innovation. Learn more: https://ow.ly/8MQo50T9qOX
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Did you know--wool Garments reduce eczema symptoms?
Studies have shown that perceptions of prickle from clothing increase as the fibre diameter increases and may be an important factor for those with sensitive skin. Eczema sufferers have especially sensitive skin and an Australian study at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) has shown that wool garments made from soft superfine Merino wool garments were well tolerated by participants in the study and reduced their eczema symptoms. Learn more: https://ow.ly/123o50QCu8O
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Why do first responders wear wool base layers?
Fighting fire with… wool? The wool fibre’s inherent fire resistance properties make it a premier protective material for first responders. Wool’s high-temperature ignition point means that the fibre does not readily ignite, making it the ultimate ally in an emergency. A recent study shows that wool also helps keep wearers cool under pressure by providing superior insulation, even when wet. With unbeatable durability, wool’s versatile capabilities ensure wearers can perform at their best, even in the most demanding situations. When duty demands excellence, trust in wool to have your back. Learn more: https://ow.ly/KjHX50PQW3J
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Can wool give you a better night of sleep?
Can wool give you a better night’s sleep? Give restless sleep a final goodnight with wool’s natural benefits. Wool’s inherent ability to help regulate body temperature keeps you in what’s known as the ‘thermal comfort zone’ for longer. This means that wool helps you to fall asleep quicker, with a deeper and less fragmented sleep. From sleepwear to bedding, wool has many ways to improve our sleep through the fibre’s inherent capabilities from temperature regulation to allergen management and more. Find out about wool for sleep with research backed information to help you and your customers get a better night’s rest. Explore the research, here: https://lnkd.in/gkaAQkhu
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Wool is good to the skin!
Whether it’s hot, cold, humid or dry, Merino wool garments are the most breathable of the common apparel types because of wool’s ability to absorb and release twice as much moisture vapour as cotton, and 30 times as much as polyester. When worn next to the skin, super fine Merino wool works as a dynamic buffer, helping to stabilise the humidity levels and temperature of the micro-climate between the fabric and the skin. Read more here: https://ow.ly/wfXv50QJ16q
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How wool became machine washable?
Early stage wool processing takes the raw, also called greasy, wool and scours it, cards it, and combs it. The result is called a sliver, a long bundle of wool fibre. The sliver is wound into a ball, and this is called top. From the top, wool can be spun into yarn. Brands can treat wool top with a shrink-proofing process which involves oxidising the fibre and adding an insoluble, non-plastic compound like Hercosett resin. Due to the partial removal of wool’s protective outer cuticle during the shrink-proofing process, the fibre’s compromised outer layer allows microbes better access, which actually increases the treated garment’s biodegradability rate. This ensures that cherished woollen items endure the spin cycle with ease while increasing the biodegradability of a wool garment at its end-of-life without contributing to microplastic pollution. Learn more about value-add finishes for wool products in the Woolmark Learning Centre: https://ow.ly/QPNQ50Q1XS3
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