2. What is sheep's wool?
Merino is a purely natural fibre grown year-round by 70 million Australian Merino sheep, fed a simple combination of water, air, sun and grass.
Today, Australia has a worldwide reputation as one of the most scientifically advanced wool producing countries in the world. Australian Merino wool is widely regarded as the finest and softest wool produced in the world. Australia, which supplies over 80% of the world's production of Merino wool for clothing, is the global "home of Merino wool". The extra-fine and high-performance Merino fibre, youexhibiting a range of unique properties, it has emerged from centuries of development, supported by selective breeding. Purely natural, biodegradable and renewable, Merino wool is well positioned to meet the growing global demand for natural and environmentally friendly products.
3. Benefits of wool
Wool is biodegradable.
Unlike most artificial fibres, Merino fibre will naturally decompose back into the earth within a few years when disposed of. Most synthetics, on the other hand, decompose extremely slowly.
Wool is renewable.
Australian Merino sheep produce a new fleece every year, making them a fully renewable source of fiber. Farmers who have been producing this fine wool for generations have shown how to effectively manage Australia's rural land while protecting the natural environment, supporting rural communities and meeting the needs of consumers who are increasingly environmentally conscious.
Wool is an active fibre.
Merino is one of the most technically advanced fibres in the world, thanks to its unique temperature and moisture regulation properties.
How does wool's unique structure affect its behaviour?
The chemical bonds within Merino fibres give them allow moisture vapor to be absorbed. Without this efficient dispersion system, the vapor would simply condense and form sweat droplets on the skin surface. The diagram below illustrates this unique structure of Merino fiber with its electronically charged side chains.
Why is temperature regulation important?
Temperature regulation is essential to sustaining human life.
Since Merino clothing offers superior insulation and breathability compared to other fabrics of similar structure and weight, it protects its wearer from temperature extremes (heat or cold). Thanks to this insulating property, wool has become synonymous with warmth, while its breathability protects the wearer from heat.
The principle of moisture transfer
In hot climates or during increased physical exertion, the microclimate above the skin becomes saturated with vapors. If the clothing is unable to wick this moisture away from the wearer's skin, the skin becomes cold and damp.
Merino fiber is capable of absorbing moisture vapors representing up to 35 percent of its dry weight.
Merino clothing sits close to the skin in hot climates or during increased physical exertion, so it actively wicks moisture vapor molecules away from the body. The microclimate above the wearer's skin is then less saturated with vapors, the skin's humidity is lower, and the vapors have a lower tendency to form sweat droplets on its surface.
Wool is breathable.Moisture wicking refers to the ability of a fabric to absorb moisture vapor from the microclimate above the skin and release it again when the humidity drops. When we talk about a garment "breathing", we mean its ability to wick away sweat so that the wearer does not feel cold damp or uncomfortable. The weight of vapors absorbed by a fiber as a proportion of its dry weight is also known as the hygroscopic property.
Merino wool is highly hygroscopic, which means that it is better suited to absorbing moisture vapors produced by its wearer and releasing them into the atmosphere.
The result is a reduction in humidity in the microclimate between the skin and clothing, which is manifested in minimal sweating.
Wool provides natural comfort.
Since Merino fibers are finer than traditional wool, creates a pleasantly soft feeling when in contact with the skin. Thanks to its excellent natural elasticity, it perfectly adapts to the body of its wearer. Merino wool garments worn directly on the body are therefore ideal for stretchingving exercises, such as weight training or yoga.
What does all this mean for you?
Easy care
Merino wool fibers have a natural protective layer that prevents the absorption of stains and, thanks to the reduced accumulation of static charge, they do not attract dust easily. Thanks to the latest innovations, Merino wool products can be easily washed in a washing machine.
A naturally safer fiber - UV protection and fire retardant.
Merino wool fibers naturally absorb UV radiation, providing users with protection from the sun's rays. In addition, due to the relatively high moisture and nitrogen content, Merino fibers are naturally fire-resistant.
Odor resistance
Merino wool stays fresher for longer. Thanks to its structure and moisture-wicking properties, it has a reduced tendency to create body odors. Its complex chemical structure locks odor molecules inside the fiber and releases them only during washing.
Shape stability
Merino wool fiber is naturally elastic. It can stretch according to the user's needs and then return to its natural shape. Merino wool clothing is therefore less prone to stretching or losing its shape.
Antistatic properties
Merino wool clothing does not accumulate an electrostatic charge and therefore has a reduced tendency to attract lint and fluff. It also does not stick to the body during exercise, as is the case with many synthetic materials, which increases comfort during training.
Temperature regulation
Merino wool fibers have a natural curl, which gives Merino wool clothing excellent insulation and breathability. Merino wool clothing protects the wearer from extreme temperatures - it keeps you warm when the outside temperature is low, and cools you in high temperatures.
Sweating is a natural temperature regulator - the evaporation of fluid from the skin surface creates a very strong cooling effect. Clothing can potentially prevent this process and thus cause overheating. However, compared to clothing made from other fibers, the wicking process of Merino wool results in a lower muscle temperature, which is then able to work at a higher intensity.
4. How to buy wool products? What is important to know when buying wool products?
The information below is based on our more than 30 years of experience, both from our own use of wool products, as well as references and feedback from our customers. Consider them our recommendations. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.
1. Weight - amount of wool - density of wool material in grams per square meter (g/m2) Depending on the purpose of use: a) 450-600 g/m2 Ideal for bedding, especially bed pads under sheets, where we recommend coarse sheepskin and quilted bedding, where a combination with cashmere is ideal. The higher the grammage, the denser the wool, the better it fulfills its purpose. Thicker for the pad so that it does not sag easily.
b) 140 g/m2 Merino wool designed for lightweight underwear, where we require softness and smoothness in direct contact with the body.
c) 200 g/m2 and more Merino wool for high-quality, thicker, universal, all-year-round functional underwear, reliably used in winter, spring and autumn, even on cool summer evenings.
2. Fiber fineness - diameter ("thickness") of the fiber in microns - 1µm = 0.001mm.
According to the purpose of use:
a) 25 - 30 µm. Ideal for bedding, especially bed pads under sheets and covered bedding. Why? The hair is stronger and does not sag as easily as finer fiber. It also ensures better air circulation between the fibers, so it insulates and warms more.
b) 20 - 25µm fine wool for bedding, Merino, Cashmere, etc., also suitable for children
c) up to 20µmthe finest Merino wool for underwear
Human hairhas a thickness between 40-90µm.
3. Purity and authenticity of pure sheared wool
An important parameter is the purity of the wool. Whether it is not degraded wool, already used, or a mixture, or is not contaminated with impurities. Purity and authenticity are guaranteed to customers by the marking of the product with the wool seal WOOLMARK - PURE NEW WOOL / MERINO EXTRA FINE or PURE MERINO WOOL. If you want to be sure when buying wool products, look for a sewn-in label with the WOOLMARK wool seal, on which you will also find the license number, see Fig. no. 3.We have been testing and certifying wool clothing and bedding since 2004.
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5. Maintenance of WOOLIFE wool products
Maintenance of wool products is not difficult, but it is not the same as products made of synthetic, artificial materials. Wool has strong self-cleaning abilities thanks to lanolin. Always follow the care symbols sewn on the product label.
Care for wool clothing that is well-knitted and made from top-quality yarn is easy. Please follow these instructions. Follow the care symbols on the sewn-on label and select the program designed for washing wool. An overview of the maintenance symbols used is here.
What does it mean to be well knitted?
The master knitter decides how the sweater will function, whether it will keep its shape well throughout its lifespan, whether it will not pill or shrink, all of which is already decided by the master knitter during the production preparation, when he selects the appropriate yarn, technologically prepares it (move it) and then programs and knits at least 4 pieces of knitwear as a semi-finished product and performs density tests on them. These pieces are washed, pre-shrunk and measured, and then evaluated and the best variant is chosen. This is knitted according to the individual parts as a finished product, e.g.sweater. The manufacturing process is also very important, especially the flexible connection of parts by chaining, which is a very demanding operation. The product prepared in this way will serve you well. That is why we knit in our own artisanal knitting factory, with a tradition since 1854. where the craft has been passed down from generation to generation. But even this is not enough for us. We are interested in how our clothes will look, for example, after two years of wearing. That is why we simulate subsequent and several times repeated "consumer" washing in a regular washing machine and we measure the sweater after each wash according to the technological documentation and evaluate it.
Our recommendations: The less you fill the washing machine, the better the result.
3. Always maintain the water temperature.
4. Reduce the spin speed to 400 rpm or less.
5. We recommend washing sweaters separately, max. 2-3 pieces of laundry at a time.
6. Do not dry woolen clothes in direct sunlight. We recommend drying them loosely on a clothesline, not hanging them.
We have tried many different detergents and with a clear conscience we can recommend the washing gel Miele WoolCare for washing in the washing machine (in the e-shop cat. no. 011004).
LAUNDRY. Wool functional underwear WOOLIFE Merino. WASHING 40°C. DRYING yes, only if the dryer has a gentle wool program. IRONING yes, wool temperature.
SHIRTS. Wool shirts WOOLIFE SUPER 120´s. WASHING 30°C. DRYING yes, only if the dryer has a gentle wool program. IRONING yes, wool temperature.
SWEATERS. Wool sweaters WOOLIFE Merino Extra Fine. WASHING 30°C. DRYING yes, only if the dryer has a gentle wool program. IRONING yes, wool temperature.
BEDDING. Merino Super Wash bedding. WASHING 30°C. DRYING no. IRONING yes, temperature for wool.
We recommend using bed linen with a cover. This will protect it hygienically and therefore it is not necessary to clean or wash it frequently. Ventilating, shaking out or vacuuming supports the self-cleaning properties of wool fibers. Small dirt can be removed with a damp cloth. Sheep fleece has the ability to absorb water up to 35% of its weight. It remains dry to the touch and moisture is easily removed as soon as the environment is no longer humid.
We can clean a wool product in the following ways:
The first, simplest and most gentle way is dry cleaning: shake out the product, hang it up, let it air out for a few hours - do not expose it to sunlight! We recommend cleaning the product this way at least once a month.
The second way is gentle soaking. This method requires following these simple steps:
First step: soak the product in a bathtub in lukewarm water up to 30 degrees using the product NASEDA for wool and press it lightly with your hand with your fingers spread out. NASEDA washing gel for wool is a concentrate for gentle hand washing of wool and other delicate laundry, free from enzymes, optical brighteners, softeners, phosphates and preservatives.
Second step: drain the water from the tub, do not wring the product, but press it with your palms in the same way and squeeze out the excess water.
Third step: let the product dry freely. Expect that drying will take longer, but the product will make up for this care. Do not dry in direct sunlight, direct heat sources (radiators) and in dryers! We recommend cleaning this way no more than once a year. Too frequent washing or improper maintenance can accelerate or cause gradual felting of wool.
Another method and option for cleaning is to have the product cleaned at an authorized dry cleaner. Caring for wool products is therefore not complicated. If we want to maintain excellent functional properties, it only requires following the above procedures and rules.
If you find any information in our explanation incomprehensible, please call us on our infoline, tel. no. 461 612 579 or write an e-mail and send it to the addressnfo@woolife.cz and we will be happy to provide you with more detailed information.
6. Current license certificate
We are a long-time licensee of Australian Wool Innovation (The Woolmark Company Pty Ltd.), our wool products undergo demanding testing and because they meet the required parameters, they proudly bear the Woolmark® wool seal. This is the most famous and oldest logo-trademark of textile products in the world.
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2022 © VITAPUR spol. s r. o.
© WOOLIFE® is a trademark of Vlasta Veselíková.
© WOOLMARK® is a trademark of The Woolmark Company Pty Ltd.
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