What is Wool?

Wool is a natural animal fibre most commonly obtained from the fleece of sheep. After shearing, the fibres are cleaned, processed and spun into yarn, which can then be knitted or woven into fabric. Wool is valued for its warmth, insulation, moisture management and resilience, making it particularly popular for knitwear, suiting and outerwear.

Where does wool come from?

Most wool used in clothing comes from sheep, which are shorn to remove their fleece without harming the animal.

The raw fleece goes through several stages before it becomes the wool fabric we recognise in clothing. It is cleaned to remove dirt, grease and other impurities before the fibres are sorted, prepared and spun into yarn.

That yarn can then be knitted or woven to produce many different types of fabric.

Different breeds of sheep produce wool with different characteristics. One of the best known is Merino wool, prized for its particularly fine fibres and widely produced here in Australia.

Is wool always made from sheep?

When we talk about wool without any other qualification, we're generally referring to sheep's wool.

Other animals also produce fibres used to make clothing. Cashmere comes from cashmere goats, mohair comes from Angora goats and alpacas produce alpaca fibre.

These are all natural animal fibres and share some characteristics with sheep's wool, but they're usually identified by their individual fibre names rather than simply being described as wool.

Why is wool so warm?

Wool fibres have a naturally crimped structure that helps trap tiny pockets of air within the fabric.

That trapped air acts as insulation, helping reduce the transfer of heat between the wearer and the surrounding environment.

Interestingly, wool doesn't simply create warmth. Its insulating properties can help the wearer remain comfortable across a range of temperatures, which is one reason fine wool and Merino garments are also used for base layers and performance clothing rather than only heavy winter coats.

Does wool absorb moisture?

Yes. Wool can absorb a significant amount of moisture vapour within its fibres while still feeling relatively dry to the touch.

This ability to manage moisture helps explain why wool can remain comfortable when conditions or activity levels change.

Wool also tends to retain much of its insulating ability when damp, another characteristic that has made it useful for outdoor clothing and cold-weather garments.

What types of clothing are made from wool?

Wool is much more versatile than simply being a fabric for winter coats.

Depending on the type of wool, yarn and fabric construction, you'll find it used in:

• jumpers and cardigans
• coats and jackets
• suits and tailored trousers
• skirts and dresses
• scarves and other winter accessories
• socks
• thermal and base layers
• corporate and uniform garments

Fine wool can create lightweight, smooth fabrics, while heavier yarns and constructions can produce thick, highly insulating garments.

What is Merino wool?

Merino wool is wool produced by Merino sheep, a breed famous for producing particularly fine fibres.

Because the fibres are finer than many traditional wools, Merino can feel softer against the skin. This makes it particularly suitable for garments worn close to the body, including base layers, polos, knitwear and socks.

Merino wool is especially significant in Australia, which is one of the world's major producers of high-quality Merino wool.

Does wool always feel itchy?

No, this is probably one of wool's more persistent reputations.

How wool feels against the skin depends largely on factors including fibre diameter, wool type, fabric construction and finishing.

Coarser wool fibres are more likely to feel prickly against sensitive skin, while very fine fibres such as those found in quality Merino garments can feel considerably softer.

So two garments labelled "100% wool" can feel remarkably different.

Does wool pill?

Wool can pill, particularly in areas exposed to repeated rubbing such as under the arms, along the sides of a garment or beneath bag straps.

Pilling occurs when loose fibres work their way towards the fabric surface and become tangled together to form small balls.

This isn't unique to wool and the amount of pilling does vary according to the fibre, yarn, fabric construction, garment quality and how the garment is worn.

Some pilling during the early life of a wool garment doesn't mean the garment is poor quality.

How should wool garments be cared for?

Wool generally requires a little more care than many everyday synthetic fabrics.

Always follow the care instructions supplied with the individual garment because different wool fabrics and blends can require very different treatment.

Some wool garments are machine washable on a wool cycle, while others require hand washing or dry cleaning. Excessive heat and agitation can cause some wool fabrics to shrink or pill, permanently changing their size and texture.

Wool garments should also be allowed to dry thoroughly before being stored. Knitwear is often best dried flat to help maintain its shape. Usually storing knitwear folded in a drawer is better than hanging on a coat hanger. When stored on a coat hanger Knitwear will stretch out of shape over time.

Is wool suitable for uniforms and workwear?

Absolutely, although it tends to sit at the more premium end of uniform clothing.

Wool and wool blend fabrics are commonly used for corporate knitwear, tailored garments, coats and premium uniforms, where appearance, comfort and warmth are important.

Merino knitwear can be particularly useful for corporate uniforms because it provides warmth without necessarily requiring a bulky garment.

Wool is also frequently blended with other fibres. A wool blend can combine some of wool's natural characteristics with properties such as increased durability, easier care or reduced cost.

Wool vs wool blend

A garment labelled 100% wool has a fibre composition made entirely from wool, whereas a wool blend combines wool with one or more other fibres.

Common partners include polyester, nylon and other fibres.

Neither is automatically better. The appropriate choice depends on what the garment needs to do. A premium 100% Merino jumper and a hard wearing wool blend corporate garment are designed for quite different purposes.

Checking the actual fibre composition is therefore more useful than assuming that anything containing wool will perform in exactly the same way.

🛍️ Shop our Collection of Wool Blend and 100% Wool Products