We like to use the finest merino wool, typically 18 to 20 microns, out there because:

• It wicks better. This means it expels moisture as opposed to holding it in
• Merino feels really soft on your skin
• Low-allergenic; always good news for those of us who are prone to itchy reactions!
• Merino helps garments to hang better. No one likes a fibre that just doesn’t hang right.

Merino is the leader in knitwear blends and when it’s flying solo too. The value of a garment increases as the micron count gets lower because of how fine that wool is. In the Merino world, this has triggered a rapid cost increase because of the demand.

We love merino wool so much that it’s the base layer in our head-to-toe garments and accessories. The quality of our merino can’t be beaten in our opinion. Not all merino garments are created equally.

The label may state 100% Merino, but be aware that there are many different grades of merino, spun thicker and thinner and knitted to different specifications.

Feel your merino, bunch it in your hand, pass it through your fingers, experience the difference in the garments you’ve purchased. It won’t be long before you will be able to pick out the quality garments by touch alone!

If you want a superfine base layer, you need it to be around the 19–20 micron range. We have superior base layers in-store that will exceed your comfort expectations!

If you need your workwear to be tough, durable and built to cope with all kinds of outdoor work, then this coarse wool is for you.

This wool often needs no blending - it’s the master of workwear knitwear in its own right.

Jerseys are usually 100% high-quality crossbred wool (often Romney breed), and some are made from a blend of wool and nylon – for enhanced durability. The nylon makes the garment easier to wash. It doesn’t pull and make a run as easily when it’s snagged. This is why it’s so great for workwear!

Who doesn’t love a touch of silk? Silk makes everything feel like it’s been steeped in luxury!

We adore silk because:

• It’s soft
• It’s light
• It makes us feel like a million dollars

All items in our Koru range use mulberry silk. Only the best for Koru, they do this because mulberry silk is known as the highest grade silk you can get in the world. Pure white in colour, it is more refined than other types of silk.

Silk is valued for its strength primarily, but its beautiful texture makes it very sought after!

Alpaca fibre can be either lightweight or heavyweight depending on how it is spun. Besides being incredibly versatile in this way, we think it’s great because:

• It’s durable – it lasts and lasts. We’ve seen alpaca garments passed down through generations!
• It’s a really soft and lavish natural fibre
• Alpaca is naturally water resistant and hard to set on fire
• Warmer than sheep’s wool
• Hypoallergenic because of the lack of lanolin

We use Alpaca for our hand-crocheted and knitted garments, such as our beautifully soft brushed Alpaca beanie - Perfect for keeping your ears warm with a touch of luxury!

Nylon is a great blendeing fibre. We use it in our socks because:

• Nylon has very good elasticity
• It’s really resilient
• It resists friction

We like to use Nylon in our work and dress socks as it acts as a strengthening agent for wear resistance. We also use it in our original work jerseys and 10% in our Native World gloves and some garments for the same reason.

Making products that not only fit the bill for right now, but last is really important to us and nylon helps make sure our products can do that for you.

This is coarse wool made from skirts of the fleece. The bits that get rubbed against harsh terrain. Sometimes called dagg wool.

Shetland wool is great for hard-wearing knit fabric because it doesn’t pull, pill or get snagged as easily as finer wools.

The benefits of Shetland wool are impressive:

• Value for money as the cost of raw materials is much lower
• It’s a coarser wool which makes it very hard-wearing, it’s not soft to the touch, people working in harsh environments do not need soft to touch!
• Less pilling than some other finer wools.
• It is so strong they make carpets from this wool.

 Companies will sometimes advertise wool as ‘Shetland Wool’ - but it’s not from Shetland, it’s skirt wool - wool from the belly and leg of the sheep. This is the least expensive clip because it uses a lower grade, less sought-after skirt sheeps wool.

We know that hollow fill means it’s light, freeze resistant and soft. Hollow-Fill Polyester is the synthetic copy of possum and polar bear fibre.

• These fibres are less expensive than the natural choices. They are mostly mass-produced in lower-labour-cost countries. There are less human touch points (growing, harvesting and processing for example) than any naturally grown fibres.
• Synthetic fibres generally last much longer than biodegradable natural fibres generally
• Man-made copies of natural fibres can often be a better resource in manufacturing. They can have: higher rates of consistency, the ease of alteration for purpose rather than breeding, grafting or cloning.

We rate this fibre so highly that we use it in the thermal Hi Trek Norsewear sock because of its unchallenged durability and heat trapping properties.

Impregnating cotton with oil makes it what we consider today as an oilskin – this oil impregnated fibre sheds water which is why it is used for Norsewear and Swanndri vests and jackets.

Oilskin’s waterproofing properties make it the ideal fibre for outdoor work, oilskin has been used for centuries and is mostly popular with fishermen or sailors due to its water-shedding capability whilst still maintaining breathability.

There is a fashion element too, hardy-looking long coats are a favourite for train commuters that often get caught on the platform in unpredictable weather.

What’s oilskin got to offer?

• It has a cotton natural fibre base
• The heritage of its use sits well beside knitwear as trusted, reliable material for shedding weather, for outdoor people.
• It creates a hardy protective shell for the user; mud, dust and moisture are shielded from the body with a layer of oilskin.
• Reproofing and care of the oil coating can see the fabric last for years much longer than many other fabrics including many synthetics.
• Designers and milliners find the fabric easy to sew to make great garments

Not catching fire when working around fire is a hugely important benefit to flame-retardant fibres. Motor racing, electrical work and hot work are demanding registered fibre garments that meet safety requirements.

We’ve crafted some really useful products using these fibres such as the fire-treated smelter electrical sock.

• Sewing threads like Nomex are used in 100% merino garments for flame retarding (wool is naturall flame-resistant) but you can imagine a nylon stitching burning the skin in vulnerable places! Used in motor racing, ballistic, and fire suits
• Aramid threads such as Nomex, Kevlar and Technora are used for suppressing electrical conductivity, and are a requirement for power company staff compliance these days.