Whether wool is itchy or not depends on the thickness of the fiber. This is measured in something called a min (µ - thousandth of a millimeter) and is called a micron. You can buy wool garments in different thicknesses, and those who experience itchiness should buy the thinnest grades. The international "bran limit" for wool is 27 microns. The Marius Kids clothes have a micron between 18.5-19.5. It is well below the bran limit of 27 microns, which makes it feel soft and comfortable against the skin.
Wool has been used in clothing for over 10,000 years because the wool fiber has a unique structure with many fantastic properties. Wool insulates against cold and heat and can absorb 35-40 percent moisture before it feels damp. Wool can absorb a lot of moisture without feeling wet and without releasing heat. In addition, wool emits heat when it absorbs moisture. The curly shape of the fibers makes room for air, and air is important when it comes to insulation. Wool has strength and elasticity and provides durable garments that can be used over and over again!
Temperature regulating
Wool contains a lot of air, which gives an insulating effect where heat is retained in cold climates and conducted away in warm climates. Wool absorbs and removes moisture produced by the body.
Warming
Wool absorbs moisture, both in and between the fibers, with up to 30% of its own weight without feeling damp. The absorption starts a process in the wool that generates heat. This gives wool its special property of feeling warm and dry.
No itching
When we say wool, do you think of grandma's itchy Christmas sweater? Our super fine merino wool fibers are only 18.5-19.5 microns thick. By comparison, a human hair is between 60 and 180 micrometers in thickness. What it means? Our merino wool is more flexible, bends gently against the skin and doesn't itch one bit!
Self-cleaning
Wool contains Lanolin, a fat, which repels moisture in droplet form. Water vapor from the body passes through the garment and takes dirt particles with it. The fiber also contains creatine, which breaks down bacteria that would otherwise cause bad odor. In addition, there is a constant minimal movement in the wool fiber itself, which provides a mechanical repulsion of the dirt particles. Until today, man has not managed to artificially create a material that can measure up to wool and its unique properties. However, enjoying the full effect of these properties requires that the garment is worn closest to the skin. This is today comfortable thanks to the soft merino wool.
Softness, coarseness – Micron
Different animals and different species produce different wool quality. The frizzy, soft wool of the Merino sheep provides one of the finest qualities (18-20 microns). The coarseness of the wool fiber is measured in thousandths of a millimeter = microns. Lower micron count gives finer and softer wool. A softer wool is more sensitive to abrasion and the durability is not as good as garments with higher microns. The garment's wool quality is carefully selected depending on the area of use. Our thick merino wool is 19.5 microns and our thin merino wool is 18.5 microns.
Wool care
The self-cleaning properties mean that wool does not need to be washed as often as garments made of other materials. Air the garment, preferably in damp weather, to keep it nice and fresh for a long time. Wool can withstand high heat, but the movements during washing cause wool to feel felt. The machine's wool program washes wool gently without rubbing the clothes. Using wool detergent is necessary to maintain the wool's fine properties. Other detergents contain enzymes that dissolve the lanolin and destroy the wool.
