Simply speaking... 

The coarser and shorter the fibre the stronger and harder surface area to itch or scratch untrained skin!

We have a measure of your wool wearing maturity here at NZ Natural Clothing. You see, we have as diverse a customer base as any, but, we get those shoppers from off the land or out of the shearing sheds and meatworks that you rarely see in malls, or shopping online!

These folk are the offspring of the founders of pasteurisation in New Zealand. Wool and Lamb stock grew in multi millions to be our backbone industry through 100 years from the late 1800s. The people in the rural industries & their families wore wool and still do. 

What has this got to do with itchy jerseys?

Everything!

The MKM Originals shearers tee and Singlet and the Norsewear farm Fleck sock would have to be the best measure of “how rural, or backbone kiwi are ya?”

The buyers of these garments and socks will make statements like;

• “It's the only one I have ever worn, my dad too”
• “I buy 3 pair of fleck a year and 2 singlets, that's my shopping”
• “These are the only singlets and tees that are long in the back and NZ made wool”
• “NZ made at the right price, what else is there to say”

They are bloody scratchy to the untrained skin hidden from the sun.

Don't buy those coarse wool ones! Buy the merino ones if its scratchy for you. 

Why? As the fibre is longer and finer, this means, less pointy sharp bits and also is ¼ the size fibre so lots of those long soft fibres knitted make for a soft feel.

So what is your itchy scale?

Can you wear a cross bred wool jersey on the skin under your soft armpits?

Can you wear a shetland wool (super coarse, used to make carpets with!!) blended with nylon to make it tough as next to skin? No! No way! 

You could always with a layer of merino underneath to get you by...

But you do not have to go for those coarse woollen garments. Our best outdoor solution is a blend of superfine merino and then a possum lined Jersey layer (ie. the MKM Tasman) over that. This is the softest, coziest layering of all, so comfy you don't know you are wearing it.

The Norsewear Farm Fleck socks are just that too. You know they are on your feet when you put them on, you know they are preventing blistering from the leather boots you are wearing, and you also know the durability of the original made in Norsewood since the 60’s will outlast any copy.

During the growth of cheap imports from foreign lands, Norsewear added a coloured thread to show the size it was made in and it also acted as a watchdog for imposters. First hand, we have had socks brought into us saying they only lasted 3 months! On inspection when a receipt cannot be found or produced, the construction and the coloured thread are the indicator they were not sold by us. Some NZ Farm merchants have moved away from the original to imports and are happier to get volume sales over durability, comfort and pride in NZ made for the customer. You won't find us doing that here at NZNC. 

But are The Farm Fleck Socks scratchy?

For the first wear or two, maybe they are if you're sensitive. If they don't work for you, go to Merino ones.

At the end of the day, all woollen knitwear is not made the same. You have to try them on to make a qualified statement. And we totally welcome that!