The fabric possesses all the natural temperature, moisture, and odor regulating properties, allowing it to remain comfortable even in situations where it has to be worn for several days in a row.

We decided to use a not-too-heavy material to avoid overheating, and added a center zipper in the front for added ventilation. The handy kangaroo pocket helps to keep your belly warm on cold days.

Though this product dries slower than general synthetic base layer T-shirts, it is less likely to cause hypothermia caused by the evaporation of sweat or other moisture. In other words, the new 100% Merino series focuses on moisture absorption rather than quick-drying, and on thermal insulation rather than cooling properties.

When the temperature changes drastically
Wool is good at maintaining a constant temperature inside the garment, keeping you dry and comfortable even in situations where temperatures can suddenly change.

When worn under an outer shell
Synthetic base layers with low moisture absorption can feel very humid and stuffy. On the other hand, our 100% Merino’s superior moisture absorption properties, will help to keep you dry and comfortable when worn under an outer shell.

When worn for long hours
Synthetic clothes often become smelly relatively early on, even if they are deodorant finished. Wools, on the other hand, naturally eliminate odor when the fabric dries even after being soaked in sweat. This powerful anti-odor performance allows you to keep moving day after day, relatively comfortably without smelling too bad.

When packing capacity is limited
Our Merino wool products can be worn in various situations for long hours without getting too smelly, minimizing the need for extra clothes in your backpack.

Wool base layers are chosen by many hikers for the material’s excellent odor neutralizing performance. Some say it’s almost odor-free even after a week of heavy hiking, but we’ll let you (and your friends) be the judge of that…

Wool is great to help you keep warm and cool as it naturally controls the moisture level within the clothes, always keeping you comfortable throughout the year.

First, when wool absorbs moisture, the thermal phenomenon called “absorption heat” is generated. Secondly, its excellent insulation properties (low thermal conductivity) prevents the body heat from being lowered by evaporation. Also, the crimped fibers are bouncy and retain loft without crushing even when wet. In addition, wool can absorb more moisture in between the fibers, always keeping the skin dry and comfortable.

Normally, Merino wool products cannot be tumble dried as the heat causes shrinkage and deformation of the fabric, but our proprietary 100% Merino wool can be tumble dried* at low temperatures (Upper limit of 60 Celsius).

This makes it better suited for long hikes and travels, as you can easily　use dryers at laundromats and hotels.

When feeling a little cold, just put on the warm hood for quick and comfortable added warmth. Our well-thought-out hood offers maximum comfort anytime, anywhere you go.

The hood shape has been revised since the 2022 version, and now uses the three-ply pattern to make it more compact and better-fitting on your head.

If you are a long-distance racer who keeps running all night long, you know the importance of keeping your belly warm: the more you get tired, the colder you feel around your stomach and waist. Our hoody has a kangaroo pocket, where the fabric is doubled, achieving an added layer of insulation. You can further windproof or insulate the pocket by stowing a map or small items such as gloves in the pocket.

The ribbed cuffs work as simple wrist warmers, helping to prevent heat loss and keep out the cold. By rolling up your sleeves you can quickly and effectively cool down. The thick ribbing helps retain warmth, which is important, as the abdomen, lower back, and buttocks are susceptible to the cold.

Our previous Merino series was produced by a combination of two strands of wool twisted together, known as “ply yarn”, featuring light and soft texture. However, this method could cause shrinkage after washing, possibly resulting in the partial bursting of the fabric.

So we analyzed the New Zealand Merino wool that we used in our old products to examine the optimal spinning and knitting methods; Our conclusion was to work with single yarn.
The fabric is pre-shrunk through tumble drying, which is a rare process for Merino clothes, making the fabric tight and compressed but bouncy. The process makes the fabric softer and more stable, allowing it to be tumble-dried at a low temperature.

Our proprietary fabric is produced in Bishu, the production area of wool garments in Japan, in cooperation with the spinning company, fabric factory, dyeing, and processing factory, and inspection organization. We continue our effort to innovate with new products and markets.

100% Merino Wool

Wool is a natural material with various unique features such as temperature/moisture control, thermal insulation, and is naturally odor-resistant. All developed by sheep to survive the harsh environment over time.

Merino wool comes from merino sheep and compared to other kinds of wool, merino’s fiber is finer, softer, and less scratchy, and hence even suitable for making underwear and baselayers.

All wool, including merino wool, is cool in summer and warm in winter. It is warm even when it’s wet, and practically odor-free even after many hours of wear.

While many other manufacturers add synthetic fibers to strengthen their Merino fabrics, we wanted to stick with 100% Merino to maximize the natural benefits of pure merino wool. Our merino will keep you dry even when it’s hot and humid and comfortable no matter the climate.

Wool is a natural material with various unique features such as temperature/moisture control, thermal insulation, and anti-odor performance; all of them developed by sheep to survive the harsh environment over time.

Merino wool comes from merino sheep and compared to other kinds of wool, merino’s fiber is finer, softer, and less scratchy, and hence even suitable for making underwear.

All wools, including merino wool, are cool in summer and warm in winter. It is warm even when it’s wet, and practically odor-free even after many hours of wear.

The wool’s fiber is composed of amino acid-based protein, just like human hair and skin. The surface is called the “scale”, which is similar to a fish scale, and the inner part is the “cortex”.
The cortex is composed of ortho-cortex and para-cortex, each with different moisture absorption performance. Because each of them differs in property, the combination of ortho and para cortexes makes the fiber “crimped”.

This crimped structure produces the wool’s unique features such as moisture/temperature control property and thermal insulation performance, avoiding the coldness caused by the sweat.

Wool or merino wool has various features and functions, but it is not flawless.

• Heavy when wet
  when it’s wet and takes longer to dry compared with most synthetic materials. Fast-drying synthetic materials, however, can be cold when wet because it deprives body heat excessively quickly as it dries due to evaporation. Wool dries slower than synthetic materials but quicker than cotton with a similar thickness.

• Liked by insects
  Soft, natural fibers such as wool, cashmere, and silk are prone to damage by insects.

• Tears easily
  The relatively short fibers of wool mean that wool fabrics are easier damaged than synthetic and cotton fibers. However, small holes can easily be fixed with a bit of pure wool and a needle.

• Shrinks easily
  Wool generally shrinks easily, even when shrink-proofed. To reduce shrinkage, after the wash, please spread the shirt well to return to the original shape and gently iron it.

• Distortion
  When knitted wool fabrics are washed, the material is likely to distort diagonally because the yarned fibers absorb water, swell, and tend to untwist. Consequently, the shape of the shirt may distort slightly with washing.

• Distinctive smell
  The wool comes from sheep and you may experience a distinctive animal-like smell coming from your t-shirt when damp. This smell disappears after the fabric dries.

The above information was compiled and edited based on the interview with the textile company and the research institute, and the reference book below:
Bibliography: Structure and Physical Properties of Wool, Japan Wool Industry Association, Seni Co., Ltd.

The above sizes are the measurements when the product is brand new and unwashed. It will shrink about 1.5cm vertically and 1cm horizontally after a few washes.

Notes:
– Due to the elasticity of the fabric, there may be some individual differences in the size of the product.
– Due to the nature of the material, there may be some individual differences in the shrinkage. The extent of the shrinkage may vary depending on the type of washing machine or the machine settings.
– Using a dryer with a low-temperature setting may cause the garment to shrink more than when dried naturally. It will be restored after it is washed again and flat-dried.
– To reduce shrinkage after the wash, gently spread the shirt and iron it.

While normal merino wool fabrics are water-repellent finished at the manufacturing stage, our 100% Merino has a hydrophilic finish for better wicking performance.

However, the yarn is waxed to improve knitting efficiency during the mass-production process, which may not be fully removed by washing in the final processing stage, and the remaining wax may repel water, hindering the fabric’s absorption.

For better wicking of the fabric, please wash two or three times to remove the residual wax.

When the 100% Merino Light item in Blue, Mustard, or Navy is in contact with a white or light-colored shirt wet from rain or sweat, color may transfer and stain the shirt.

This product is tumble-dried with a low-temperature setting (60 degrees Celcius or lower). Please note that the dryer should be used only when it is necessary to prolong the lifetime of the garment.

• This product is made of highly odor-resistant merino wool, which usually does not require a frequent wash.
• The fabric uses shrink-proof pure merino wool. It is machine-washable by “Gentle Course” or “Hand Wash Course” with gentle water flow.
• When you store the item, use mothballs and/or vacuum storage bags to keep out insects.
• Merino’s fibers are short, and fuzz and pilling may appear, which can be removed by several washes.