• Wool is temperature-regulating. Wool insulates in cold weather, keeping you nice and warm. When temperatures rise, thin wool has a cooling effect.
• Wool attracts moisture and can absorb up to 30% of its own weight in moisture. In cold weather, wool should always be worn as the innermost layer, since it wicks sweat and moisture away from skin and into the outermost layer of the garment. This keeps you from feeling wet and cold.
• Wool keeps you warm even when wet. In fact, wool can provide more warmth wet than dry. When wool absorbs moisture, a reaction occurs that generates heat and, if you place a thermometer in a handful of wet wool, you will see the temperature rise by several degrees. In days gone by, Norwegian fishermen used to immerse their gloves in salt water to generate extra heat.
• Wool is self-cleaning and prevents bacteria growth. Wool clothing can (and should!) be aired between uses and does not need to be washed often. Wool also prevents odour, making it perfect for use in underwear and socks, while its antibacterial properties are one of the reasons that new mothers are advised to use nursing pads made of wool.
• Wool does not wrinkle easily and rarely needs to be ironed.
• Wool is also flame retardant. Unlike synthetic materials that are highly flammable and/or melt, wool does not easily catch fire. That is why wool underwear is used together with protective clothing and children should not be dressed in synthetic materials like fleece when close to an open flame.

 

So, what is wool?

Wool is an animal-based, natural fibre consisting of hair from animals like sheep, goats, lamas, alpacas, camels and rabbits. Like our own hair, wool fibre has scales and these scales can absorb both air and water. This is one of the reasons why wool has both heat-insulating and moisture-transporting properties. Wool fibres are also wavy or curly, which contributes to the elasticity of wool. The degree of softness of various wool fibres depends, among other things, on the thickness of the fibre and how mottled/frizzy it is.

 

What makes merino wool so special?

At Pierre Robert, we use almost exclusively Merino wool. Merino wool has thinner and smoother fibres than, for example, Norwegian wool. It isn't itchy­ and feels soft and comfortable against skin. Merino fibres have a wavy structure that gives them great stretch and flexibility and clothing made of Merino wool keeps its shape as a result.

 

Why is wool itchy?

It is the thickness of the wool fibre that determines whether or not the wool is itchy. This is measured in microns and the ‘itch limit’ for wool is 27 micron.

Regular Norwegian wool has a thickness of around 28 microns and higher. This makes Norwegian wool extremely durable and popular for use as an upholstery fabric and for floor rugs. Since it exceeds the itch limit, it can feel itchy if worn directly against the skin, so most people use wool sweaters as a second layer.

All wool underwear from Pierre Robert is made of fine Merino wool measuring 19.5 micron. This is below the itch limit of 27 micron, making it soft and itch-free when worn against the skin. Fine Merino wool is one step above the category of ‘ultra-fine Merino wool’, which has a thickness of 14.5 micron or less. To achieve this wool quality, the sheep must be kept covered and in a pen, without the possibility to roam around freely outdoors. The production conditions for ultra-fine Merino wool do not meet the Pierre Robert Group's standards for animal welfare.

The degree to which wool itches also depends on the part of the body on which the wool is worn. Most people have a higher tolerance to itchy wool on their feet. That is why many of our socks are made with a wool blend with thicker wool than 19.5 micron Merino wool.

 

Where does Pierre Robert’s wool come from?

Merino wool generally comes from warmer climates. Merino sheep can survive in Norway, but would produce a different wool quality, with thicker fibres than Merino sheep that live in a warmer country. Pierre Robert’s wool originates primarily in South Africa, but we also buy mulesing-free wool from Australia.

 

What about animal welfare?

At Pierre Robert, we are adamant that all those who produce clothing for us – both people and animals – are treated well. All of our suppliers must comply with our Ethical Guidelines, which contain a separate section containing strict requirements for animal welfare. We do not accept animal abuse and, for example, buy only certified mulesing-free wool. Read more about Pierre Robert and animal welfare.

 

Why do you claim that wool is sustainable?

 

The life cycle of a garment consists of several stages, all of which can have an environmental impact, including the production of the raw material, the textile production itself and associated chemical use, washing of the garment after use, the number of times the garment is worn, the lifespan of the garment and how it is disposed of in the end.

 

Raw materials

Wool originates from a sustainable source and its production requires less water consumption than, for example, cotton.

 

Production

Pierre Robert’s chemical regulations apply to the production of all of our clothing, regardless of material, and comply with or exceed the requirements of the EU Reach regulation. Hazardous and environmentally harmful chemicals are not to be used and chemicals are not to be released into water or water systems. The chemicals used to produce our wool garments have been reduced to a minimum and are used in conjunction with washing the wool, dying and finishing treatments to prevent the garment from shrinkage.  

 

Use

Since wool is naturally self-cleaning and antibacterial, clothing made of wool does not need to be washed as often as other clothing. Wool garments can often be aired instead of washed. Washing a garment in a washing machine is one of the most energy-intensive stages in the lifecycle of a garment, so wool consumes far less energy during the usage phase than other materials. In addition, wool lasts longer, is easy to repair and is often passed down to later generations.

 

Disposal

Wool is a natural fibre and biodegradable. It is also possible to recycle wool, but there is little organised collection of wool clothing for recycling in Norway. Garments that can be used by others should be donated to organisations like Fretex or Uff, or deposited at a local recycling centre.