The Wonders of Wool Clothing

Child wearing a wool bodysuit in Alaskan landscape
Photo from @maferfitz of her daughter in her Engel Baby Merino Wool Fleece Hooded Suit

Wool is an incredibly versatile natural fiber that has been used to produce practical and comfortable clothing for thousands of years. With its temperature regulation, natural wicking abilities, and anti-microbial properties, it is easy to understand why organic merino wool undergarments, clothing, and outerwear have become so popular with outdoor enthusiasts around the world. As an added bonus, wool is a renewable and sustainable fabric; each sheep grows one to five pounds of wool each year. 

Why Should I Consider Wool?

Merino wool clothing is soft against the skin, warm, and oh-so-comfortable! When wearing wool, our customers find that they can transition from extremely cold temperatures outside to relaxing inside by the fire, and their body temperature stays where it should be. This is due to the thermal regulation properties of wool fibers that sheep have developed naturally through evolution. The ability to stay comfortable in all weather can be experienced when wearing wool.

Wool naturally wicks moisture away from your skin, bringing sweat to the surface where it can dissipate quickly. This makes wool apparel a top choice for outdoor activities, since you can stay dry and warm, and truly enjoy being outside. When you wear a base layer of wool clothing and a coat in the winter, you will find that you stay much warmer and drier than if you were to wear multiple base layers of synthetic fabrics. Wool worn as a base layer also keeps the wearer comfortable in damp and rainy conditions when paired with water-repellent outerwear.

You may not know that wool fibers are antimicrobial (naturally!), so they reduce odors and self-clean. Wool can be air-dried after each use and worn multiple times between each wash. This means that you can wear your wool on a daily basis without needing to do laundry, simplifying your routine and extending the life of your clothing. Backpackers and those who tend to pack light especially appreciate this about wool.

Is Merino Wool Itchy?

Merino sheep

When you think of wool, you may think of your grandmother’s itchy wool blankets and sweaters of yesteryear, but that is simply not the case when it comes to merino wool! Merino sheep have softer and finer hair than sheep with other types of wool. This means merino wool feels extremely comfortable next to human skin, yet is also warmer than other fabrics on a by-weight basis.  

Merino wool is often blended with pure, organic silk to bring even more comfort to the most sensitive skin types. One of our customers, Jenn A., recently told us how much she enjoyed her Engel Women’s Wool/Silk Long Sleeve Shirt. “The soft and comfortable shirt can be worn under other clothes for extra warmth. It is also attractive enough to wear alone as a tee or with a jumper. While the wool shirt is extremely warm when it’s cold, it is able to adjust when you go inside so you don’t feel overheated.”

What is Wool Fleece?

Janus wool fleece fabric

Wool fleece is a thicker wool material that is unbelievably soft. The fabric is made by roughly washing the woven clothing and then shaved to a uniform length. This gives it an added layer of warmth and a more water-resistant property while making it highly elastic and non-restrictive. The loftiness of the wool fleece holds onto air pockets, adding insulation to the wearer. Because of this, many people use wool fleece clothing as outerwear. Wool fleece clothing, such as the Engel Baby/Toddler Merino Wool Fleece Hooded Overall with Wooden Buttons, the LANACare Riding Cap for children, and the Ruskovilla Gray Wool Wrist Warmers for adults, stays dry and water resistant, even in the snow. Natural wool fleece is often compared to synthetic polar fleece items in terms of warmth and comfort. However, where polar fleece tends to lose its insulating properties when wet, wool fleece continues to regulate body temperature even when soaked in water.  

Is Wool Clothing Organic?

Woman and man in factory handling wool fabric

All of the brands that we carry are 100% eco-certified, eco-friendly, pesticide-free, humanely-sourced organic merino wool (and merino wool blends), which means that you are supporting sustainable wool production practices. Organizations such as Oeko-Tex and the Global Organic Textile Standard ensure that the wool manufacturers are committed to the proper handling of both the sheep and the raw wool materials. In addition to the special care that is given to the sheep, all of the dyes used are biodegradable and free from heavy metals. Their natural dye process allows for bright and vivid colors as well as more muted tones. Many of the buttons on the wool apparel are also made from renewable raw materials, meaning that you can be confident knowing that your choice of wool clothing is both good for you and good for the environment.

Should Babies Wear Wool?

Baby wearing an Engel wool onesie

Young children and babies are often not aware that they are too cold or too hot. Wool is an excellent way to keep your infant’s core warm while ensuring that they are not overheating. When a baby is cold, their body uses energy to generate heat. “This same energy would be better utilized to further develop their brains, hearts, livers, lungs, etc.,” Susan R. Johnson MD, F.A.A.P., explains in her article The Importance of Warmth. “In addition, being cold decreases immunity. We are all more susceptible to the germs and viruses that are always around us when we are wet and cold. When our body has to expend extra energy to keep warm then less energy is available to ‘fight’ off infections.” Wearing a wool onesie, such as the Janus Kids’ Babywool Wrap Onesie or the Engel Baby Long Sleeve Bodysuit, is an easy way to keep your infant at the proper temperature.

Wool hats can provide comfort to your baby, while also preventing heat from escaping through their heads. As Rahima Baldwin Dancy explains in the book You Are Your Child’s First Teacher, “A baby hat not only prevents heat loss but also keeps the fontanels covered. The fontanels are the ‘soft spots’ in the baby’s skull. Many parents have found that putting a hat on their baby has a calming effect when they are out in the world, for it seems to keep the baby more insulated from outside influences.” Check out our selection of wool hats for infants and babies, including the Engel 100% Virgin Wool Baby Bonnet and the Janus Lightwool Baby Bonnet.

Do Kids Like Wearing Wool?

Kids wearing Ruskovilla wool in the cold

It can be difficult to keep active children at the right temperature, particularly if they are playing out in the cold or taking a winter riding lesson. Wool as a base layer in the spring, fall, and winter will help your child feel comfortable, allowing them to focus on their activities. Many people like to layer wool under their child’s snowsuits because it helps to limit sweating and they can play much longer out in the cold!

“As a parent of two energetic Waldorf students, I can attest to the innumerable benefits of wool clothing for young kids—and myself as a parent, too!” Elizabeth Hamshaw, the General Manager at The Cheshire Horse tells us. “My boys spend hours outside, no matter the weather, and their wool apparel keeps them comfortable through it all due to its moisture-wicking and cozy warmth. Our family believes that ‘There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing,’ thanks to wool!”

Why Are Wool Socks So Popular?

Wool socks have all of the same great temperature regulation and moisture-wicking benefits as wool clothing—but for your feet! This is exceedingly important for your feet, because according to the U.C. San Diego Health, “Each foot has approximately 125,000 sweat glands. The soles contain more glands per square centimeter than any other part of the body. They produce approximately half a pint of perspiration daily.” Wool helps to ensure that your feet stay dry throughout the day. Additionally, the antimicrobial properties of wool help to reduce foot odor and prevent bacterial and fungal issues, such as Athlete’s Foot. 

Is Wool Only For Cold Weather?

Kids in Engel wool in summer

While wool is a great insulator in the winter, it is also very comfortable to wear during the spring and fall months since it’s so breathable. We have short sleeve shirts and tank top options available, which are ideal for transitional weather. Many of our customers find that they stay dry no matter what activity they are performing, and if they sweat, they dry very quickly. Worldwide, natural fiber clothing is the leading choice for outdoor activities and sports because of its lasting comfort and functionality.

Many of our employees wear wool even when they are working here inside the store. You can read more about one employee’s experience with wool in our blog post, Janus Wool Design Shirt Review.

How Do You Wash Wool?

Full laundry hamper in front of a washing machine

Many people have a preconceived notion that wool clothing is difficult to care for, but we are so pleased to tell you that this simply isn’t true! All of the wool products that we carry can be hand-washed or lightly machine-washed on gentle cycles at a cool water temperature with the proper soaps. We recommend using a soap that is specially formulated to cleanse wool. Engel Wool Wash and Nikwax Wool Wash both effectively clean wool and wool blend clothing without stripping the natural oils from the fabric. Lanolin products, such as LANA Care Lanolin Soap for Wool Clothing, should be used periodically to help to return lanolin into the fabric, which extends the life of your wool garment. After you have washed your wool, lay it flat to dry, to help to maintain the shape of your clothing.

You can learn more about properly caring for your wool clothing in our blog post, The Warm Fuzzies: Properly Caring for Your Wool. Unlike other clothing items, you do not need to wash your wool prior to wearing it for the first time because chemicals are not used in the manufacturing process.

At The Cheshire Horse, we are pleased to have an extensive collection of wool undergarments, clothing, and outerwear. Our large inventory of merino wool clothing includes plenty of options for the whole family, with apparel and accessories for men, women, children, and babies. We encourage you to stop into the store or check out our selection of merino wool apparel online.

Do you have additional questions about natural wool fibers and wool clothing? Leave them in the comments below!

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