Merino Wool Done Right
At CLEW, the same level of care we put into engineering our bindings carries over to the materials we use in our side products. Understanding how a material behaves and where it comes from helps us make decisions that ultimately shape durability, comfort, and performance — Merino wool is a perfect example of this.
What Makes Merino Wool Stand Out
Merino wool is produced from a sheep breed known for exceptionally fine fibers, often much thinner than traditional wool. This fineness gives Merino its soft, non-itchy feel, but it also influences performance: finer fibers bend more easily, making the material naturally elastic and resilient. Each fiber functions like a tiny spring, which is why Merino stretches, returns to shape, and resists creasing.
The fiber’s internal structure absorbs moisture vapor and releases it gradually, offering reliable temperature regulation — warm when conditions are cold, cool when they’re warm. Merino also resists odors due to its natural keratin chemistry, reducing the need for frequent washing and supporting long-term freshness.
What Makes Merino Wool Stand Out
Merino wool is produced from a sheep breed known for exceptionally fine fibers, often much thinner than traditional wool. This fineness gives Merino its soft, non-itchy feel, but it also influences performance: finer fibers bend more easily, making the material naturally elastic and resilient. Each fiber functions like a tiny spring, which is why Merino stretches, returns to shape, and resists creasing.
The fiber’s internal structure absorbs moisture vapor and releases it gradually, offering reliable temperature regulation — warm when conditions are cold, cool when they’re warm. Merino also resists odors due to its natural keratin chemistry, reducing the need for frequent washing and supporting long-term freshness.
Mulesing-Free — A Key Difference in Sourcing
A central topic in Merino production is the distinction between mulesed and mulesing-free wool. Traditionally, mulesing was used to reduce the risk of flystrike, but the procedure brings significant animal-welfare concerns. Mulesing-free producers instead rely on selective breeding, improved farm management, and non-invasive preventative methods.
The wool quality itself is the same, but the production practices differ. Because mulesing-free farms operate with stricter protocols and are fewer in number, sourcing requires more effort, certification steps, and typically comes at a higher cost. At CLEW, we’ve already succeeded in finding a reliable producer for our Men’s and Women’s base layers who meets these high standards, ensuring consistent quality and traceability.
Why We Choose the More Demanding Path
At CLEW, sourcing high-quality Merino wool is a deliberate choice. It reflects the same standards we apply to our hardware: long-term performance, responsible production, and genuine reliability. Even when it means higher raw-material costs or a narrower pool of suitable partners, the result is a product that performs to the level we expect and meets modern standards for durability and quality.
This careful approach takes more time and effort, but it results in products that set the standard for quality, performance, and longevity — exactly what CLEW stands for.
