Sounds weird? As if, for the sake of rhyme, we just stuck some words together? Oops, then your wool knowledge is not completely up to date. No problem, we'll fix that right up :)


It's a well-kept secret that merino wool is also great for spring and summer. Merino wool keeps you warm, no debate there, but the properties that make this possible also work the other way around. Need a little more text and explanation? That's what we're going to give you, free of charge.

 

La Femme Camel

 

DE ANATOMY OF (MERINO) WOOL

To understand wool, you first have to get to know it a little better (that's how it works with humans too ;)

Merinowol in the summer = cool

That's because wool fibers are not smooth, but both scaly and frizzy. Threads are spun from wool fibers, yarns are made from one or more threads, and clothing is knitted from the yarns. Due to the whimsical structure of the wool fiber, the final knit contains countless tiny air chambers that keep the temperature constant. Compare it to a well-insulated wall, or double glazing: they keep your house warm when you heat up the stove, and cool when you don't. Merino wool clothing has the same effect on you: it keeps your body temperature under control. If you are warm, you stay warm. If you are cool, you stay cool. How cool!

Merinowol in the summer = ventilating

Another advantage of the air chambers in merino wool knitwear: they allow your clothes to 'breathe'. This means, among other things, that moisture is easily absorbed and transported away from your body. Bye bye Sweaty Betty. Smells and odors, such as garlic or pancake smoke, are also a thing of the past after hanging wool out in the open air for a bit. One of Mother Nature's many wonders :)

Merinowol in the summer = hygiënic clean and fresh

Do you understand why merino wool absorbs moisture, but not why it releases it so smoothly? That is due to the natural fatty layer of the wool fiber, called lanolin. It allows wool to repel manageable amounts of moisture. By manageable we mean the amount of moisture that occurs during 'normal' use. If you jump into the duck pond with your merino wool sweater, you will get soaked, don't confuse the two. An additional advantage of that wool-specific fat layer: dirt and bacteria are also effectively repelled.

 

Merinowol in the summer = an environmentally friendly alternative

Perhaps slightly off topic, but in our opinion still worth mentioning: merino wool fits perfectly in a sustainable lifestyle. Like all other types of wool, merino wool is a 100% natural product, which - if not mixed with other fibers or raw materials - will decompose within a year when it is 'returned' to nature. Synthetic fabrics take about 40 years to do this! Not that you're going to throw your sweater on the compost heap, but we want to mention it anyways. In addition, merino wool comes from a renewable source (grows back on the sheep by itself) and is circular, because it is easy to recycle.

 

 

MERINOWOOL IN THE SUMMER: TAKE NOTE


Now that we have updated you on the technical background of the merino wool fiber, you understand why merino wool is also suitable for summer temperatures. But... one merino wool garment is not the other. A winter sweater made of merino wool is different from a summer sweater made of merino wool. How come? We are happy to explain that to you.

The yarn thickness. The thicker the yarn, the warmer your merino wool sweater/cardigan/pants etc. Weight matters, you don't have to be an expert to understand that. For summer clothing made of merino wool we use finer – read: thinner – yarns.

The knitting needle. Thinner knitting needles produce thinner, lighter knits. For tights and stockings this data is shown in 'denier', for knitwear in 'gauge'. The higher the gauge, the finer the knit. A warm winter sweater is knitted in 3, 5 or 7 gauge, a lightweight summer sweater usually in 12, 14 or sometimes even 16 gauge. Even though we do not mention the technical term gauge in the product descriptions, we always give an indication, for example 'medium weight knit', 'lightweight knit' or 'chunky' knit. We know exactly how our designs are knitted, so you can trust us on our word ;)

The knitting stitch. The type of knitting stitch also counts: an 'open' stitch that is knitted with a low tension produces a lighter, airier knit. For merino wool summer clothing, we sometimes add some extra design tricks, such as openwork holes or transparent mesh knits. In winter, coarse rib stitches and cables provide more 'body' and therefore more warmth.


Long story short

 

MERINO WOOLEN SUMMER CLOTHING = 100% SUMMERPROOF*

*Besides gorgeous, timeless, and made with love for you and the earth, ofcourse. And while you're here: take a look at our online boutique and enjoy the latest items.

ON TO A WARM, WOOLLY SUMMER!

Team Plein Publique