The Glenbrae range of jumpers, sweaters, jerseys and slipovers are all made from lambswool or merino wool … so why is merino wool so special? 

Well, here at Spectrum Yarns in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, we source the very best wool in the world for all our Glenbrae garments – and that happens to be the merino sheep in the southern hemisphere climes of New Zealand and Australia.

There’s no need for any righteous indignation about why we don’t use British wool. Let us explain.

The answer’s simple. British sheep are brought up in the harsh British climate of wind, rain, hail, snow, a bit more wind, a lot more rain … you get the picture.

This means the British wool is tougher – ultra tough – so is ideal for hardwearing items such as carpets and rugs.

When it comes to woollen clothes you want it, well, nice and soft and fleecy which is what you get from sheep reared in warmer climates and merino wool is the unbeatable choice for all-year round clothing.

You’ll never get softer than lambswool as this is the very first shearing of the merino sheep, usually around the age of seven months old. This wool is soft and elastic – think of it as those first baby curls as the fleece has never been cut before, making the ends extra soft - but we spin it thicker than the yarn we use in our merino sweater so it keeps you even warmer.

The merino wool is any shearing from a merino sheep after the first lambswool one and at Glenbrae we only use very fine fibres yet they’re also the strongest (six times stronger than cotton) and best quality. This ultimately means less fibre damage in the finished garment and is one of the reasons why our clothes are less prone to pilling (that’s bobbly small balls of lint that form on the surface of fabrics) and retain their shape better, free of wrinkles.

Amazingly, a single merino wool fibre is a quarter the diameter of a human hair which means it bends out of the way when it brushes up against the skin so can’t be prickly and is always really soft.

Merino is a natural fibre that absorbs far more moisture than synthetic fibres, including fleece (that’s the manmade version rather than the proper woolly one).

Merino is porous so retains up to 35% moisture without the wearer feeling uncomfortable, unlike synthetic material which will leave you feeling wet, cold and clammy after exercise.

Merino wool also absorbs smells caused by perspiration so you’re less likely to stink and the garment will need washing less than other synthetic materials. It’s also quick to dry.

Merino wool stops light rain trying to get in but soaks up perspiration from your body on the inside too, leaving you feeling drier and more comfortable, especially if walking, running, rowing, cycling – whatever exercise you do. Merino wool lets your body breathe by absorbing its moisture and evaporating it outside the fabric. In winter it works the other way by condensing moisture vapours inside the fibre to give off heat and keep you warm, fresh and dry.

If you put water on a Glenbrae garment it’ll just bead off. After all, sheep have evolved naturally so their fleeces stop water getting through to their skin.

When it’s cold outside the natural crimps and bends in merino wool trap air, insulating you to keep you warm.

And as if that’s not enough, merino wool also absorbs potentially harmful UV-A and UV-B radiation, protecting it while you’re out and about.

Add to all this that our Glenbrae garments are made with our unique elastomeric yarn called Spirol. That means its stretchy and moves as you move to ensure the shape always stays the same. With Spirol it’ll never go baggy, has longevity and is easy care so you can machine wash it and tumble dry.

In short, here’s 10 reasons why you should buy Merino wool.

Tough and durable so lasts and lasts

Recyclable

Biodegradable

Warm in winter

Cool in summer

Easy to wash and dry

UV resistant

Doesn’t become smelly

Wrinkle-free

Not itchy

So, if you ever wondered why merino wool was so special, now you know.