Merino Wool for Underwear

As a material, wool is in a class of its own. This natural material contains no synthetic fibers and has unparalleled properties. Wool is known for its ability to regulate temperature, keeping you warm in winter and cool in summer. It wicks moisture away from the skin and keeps you warm even when wet, making it an excellent material for damp conditions. Wool is breathable: air circulates between its fine fibers, and instead of leaving moisture on the skin, it draws it into the fabric’s outer layers. Merino wool is especially well suited to layers worn next to the skin because it is softer than regular sheep’s wool. It doesn’t feel prickly or itchy to most people, so they can enjoy the benefits of wool directly against their skin. Wool is also an eco-friendly material: it is biodegradable and recyclable, and as a natural fiber, it does not shed harmful microplastics into waterways when washed. Instead of washing merino wool garments, you can often freshen them up by airing them out, as wool has self-cleaning properties. It is also antibacterial and helps neutralize odors. However, merino wool is not entirely without problems and is associated with the practice of mulesing. Mulesing involves removing loose skin from around a sheep’s anus to prevent flies from laying eggs in the folds of skin. The procedure is extremely painful for sheep, and pain relief is not always used. Mulesing is strongly criticized on animal welfare grounds and is often considered unnecessary, as there are other ways to protect sheep from parasites. Many wool producers have already stopped mulesing, and thanks to conscientious consumers, demand for mulesing-free wool is growing, putting pressure on other producers to abandon the practice as well.