Merino wool products can be more expensive than other wools, but justifiably so. There are plenty of good reasons why this wool costs a little more and plenty of things to reassure you that it will be money well spent if you choose to buy garments made from merino wool.
Slow grower
One of the reasons why your women’s merino wool Irish sweater may cost a little more is because this wool is naturally harvested and produced but is still relatively rare. It also grows very slowly.
When it does grow, it is much denser than other types of wool. You will get around four times as many fibres in a square inch of merino than with a conventional fleece.
Short harvesting period
The wool of merino sheep grows thin in summer and thick in summer. This means there is only half a year to harvest the summer or winter fleeces, so farmers need bigger flocks to meet demand. This means more care costs for the sheep.
Fine fibres
The fibres of merino wool are half the thickness you would find with normal wool. This is one of the reasons why it is such a smooth and soft fabric and is renowned for not itching like some other wools.
These fine fibres mean that twice as much of the wool is needed to make equivalent garments, which obviously means higher associated costs. Merino sheep also don’t have as many lambs as other breeds, which is another problem when it comes to needing a big flock.
Natural product
It is not hard to find a womens Merino wool Irish sweater online, but you may find it more difficult and have to travel further to get one at the source. This is because real merino wool comes from alpine sheep that live freely and are not factory farmed. Natural merino will last longer and is better from an animal welfare and sustainability point of view.
Longer lasting
There are many reasons why merino wool costs more to produce, but it lasts a lot longer and even needs washing less frequently. It is breathable to prevent odours from building up and is really good at providing insulation and warmth in colder weather. There is definitely a reason why merino wool has been used for thousands of years!
