Cool, cozy comfort: 3 reasons to fall in love with Icebreaker merino wool clothing this summer
Wool in summer? If you are
quietly questioning our sanity, we understand. When contemplating traditional
wool garments, heavy, itchy and hot are adjectives that come to mind.
However, there’s a new sheep
on the block these days. He calls the Southern Alps of New Zealand home and his
wool is a far cry from the typical lowland sheep’s.
Forming the spine of New
Zealand’s South Island, the Southern Alps is a harsh place: freezing in winter
and scorching in summer. In its high
altitude valleys, some as high as 7000 feet, live 3,000,000 merino sheep. To
survive, the hardy merino’s wool has evolved to keep it cool in 35° C summer heat
and warm in -20° C winter nippiness.
If merino wool can keep sheep
alive in such severe conditions, could humans benefit from its qualities as
well? Icebreaker thinks so. Since 1994 it has been continually refining its
merino wool clothing to create a natural system of lightweight layers that will
keep you comfortable and happy in all 4 seasons.
Warm but cool
It starts with capitalizing
on the light, fine, breathable coat that merinos rely on to keep them cool in
summer. This is your base layer. It works by transporting moisture vapor away
from your skin so that it can evaporate.
Instead of the moisture
vapor skidding along the surface or evaporating through holes in the fabric - the
way synthetics are designed to work, Icebreaker merino allows the moisture to
escape through the fibers themselves as well at the spaces between them. This beautiful breathability is what helps to
you keep cool without feeling clammy.
When the mercury drops, it’s
time to layer up just like the merinos do when they grow their winter coats. By
layering lightweight Icebreaker clothing, you trap insulating air between each layer
for cozy warmth without the bulk.
Partnering up natural fibers for summer comfort
Not
all merino wool is created equal. The sheep of New Zealand’s Southern Alps grow
the longest, strongest merino fiber there is, making it more durable and
helping it to stay softer for longer. It naturally resists odors, and it feels
great against your skin.
But,
sometimes, even miracle fibers can use a little help. Cool-Lite is one of
Icebreaker’s new fabrics. It’s a combination of two natural fibers: merino wool
and TENCEL. TENCEL is produced from wood grown at sustainable tree farms. Learn
more about it here. (link to: http://eartheasy.com/wear_tencel.htm)
Cool-Lite
keeps you 40% cooler than pure merino wool. How? On top of the qualities merino
wool brings, TENCEL’s naturally high moisture content helps to keep your body
cool.
Happy sheep, happy planet
The
alternative to wool clothing is synthetics such as polyester or polypropylene.
While they are light and quick to dry, they are made by melting, extruding and
setting petrochemical plastic.
Icebreaker
clothing goes the natural route. Made from the wool of sheep living the life
nature intended, Icebreaker clothing is renewable and biodegradable.
To
make sure the sheep stay happy, Icebreaker commits to long-term contracts with
merino sheep farmers and takes responsibility for every stage of the process, from
the quality of the wool right down to the sheep’s welfare.
Natural comfort, guaranteed
Icebreaker
guarantees its garments are the most comfortable, best performing merino
clothing you can buy. If you are not completely satisfied, bring it back within
90 days and they’ll be happy to replace it.
It doesn’t get much better than that!
Super Employee Blogger
Wendy Niven
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