What is merino wool?
Wool is a collective name for fur from goats, sheep, llamas and alpaca. Merino wool comes from merino sheep that live in mountainous areas, where they are exposed to both winter cold and high heat. Since the wool never stops growing, the sheep need to be sheared to feel good, which usually happens once a year. Fluffy giant balls are then shipped to spinning mills where the combed wool is twisted into threads and placed on large spools. When the yarn is ready, it is time to produce garments, where knitting is the technique used to produce our merino wool garments that are completely mulesing-free.

3 benefits of merino wool - why choose it?
1. The unique thread - Wool is a very popular material with unique properties. It is therefore not surprising that people have been using wool to create clothes for 10,000 years. Wool's special fibers are resilient and stretchy, which means that they keep their fit for a long time while the garments do not wrinkle. In addition, it is kind to the environment and with the right care it has a long durability.

2. Say goodbye to smelly activity clothing - The first thing many people think of when it comes to wool garments is that they are warm - and that is absolutely true! Merino wool, on the other hand, is a natural material with the unique property of being able to bind both water and air. This means that wool is warm even if it gets damp. Clothing made of merino wool is therefore suitable for both play and sports activities, mainly because you feel dry and do not freeze through the material's ability to absorb moisture. In addition, merino wool has both antiseptic and antimicrobial properties, which means that the formation of bacteria is inhibited. In other words, you do not need to worry that the garment will smell.

3. Stick-free material in wet and cold conditions - Merino wool is also a material known for its softness, which thanks to its fine fibers is experienced as completely "bran-free". Geggamoja's merino wool garments, such as our popular wool base layer, are therefore perfect as layer 1 closest to the body. Whether it's a day on the ski slopes, preschool or why not to the hockey rink, the wool garments work perfectly.

How do I wash and care for my merino clothing?
Wool should not be washed too often - save water and air the wool garments instead. If there are stains, you can use a bile soap for spot cleaning. If necessary, wash wool garments at 30 degrees on the wool program in the washing machine or by hand. Remember to use wool detergent that is specially designed not to damage the fine fibers of the wool. When you then dry the garments, it may be a good idea to dry them flat instead of hanging them on a hanger, mainly to avoid the risk of the garment losing its shape. If you treat your wool garments with care, you will have wool clothing that will be able to keep you warm year after year.

What does it mean that merino wool is mulesing-free?
Mulesing is a procedure performed on Merino sheep to prevent fly infestations, as their folded skin is prone to infestation. The procedure involves scalping the sheep’s backside, which is a painful process that is often performed without anesthesia and is very traumatic for the sheep. Mulesing-free Merino wool means that this method has not been used on the sheep from which the wool comes. At Geggamoja, we strongly oppose the cruel treatment of animals and therefore ensure that our manufacturers only use wool that is mulesing-free.

Woolmark

The Woolmark label for wool clothing is a globally recognised symbol that guarantees that the garment meets strict quality standards for pure wool. It is a certification given by The Woolmark Company, and it ensures that the product is made from 100% pure, untreated wool, or if it is a blend, that it contains a high proportion of pure wool.

Woolmark certification means:

1. Quality: The garment is made from high-quality wool, often merino wool, and has undergone rigorous testing for durability, shrink resistance, color fastness, and other quality factors.
2. Pure wool: The label guarantees that the wool is 100% natural, renewable and biodegradable.
3. Treatment standards: Products with the Woolmark label meet strict requirements regarding how the wool has been handled and processed, ensuring that the wool has not been damaged or mixed with lower quality or synthetic materials.

In summary, the Woolmark label is a symbol of trust and quality when it comes to wool products, ensuring that consumers receive a reliable and durable garment.

Learn more about Woolmark here

Is Geggamoja's wool treated with Superwash?

"Superwash" on wool refers to a chemical treatment or mechanical process that makes the wool machine washable without shrinking or pilling. This is usually done by either removing the outer layer of the wool fibers, which consists of tiny scales, or covering them with a synthetic layer (usually chlorine and polymers). The scales on untreated wool otherwise catch on each other during washing, causing shrinkage and pilling.

Geggamoja's wool clothing is NOT treated with this, because:

1. Environmental impact : The Superwash treatment uses chemicals such as chlorine to remove scales from the wool fibers, and this can be harmful to the environment if not handled responsibly. Chlorine waste can cause contamination of water sources.

2. Lost natural features: Wool's natural ability to breathe, regulate body temperature and resist odor can be affected by the superwash treatment. The treatment changes the natural texture and feel of the wool, which can reduce some of the benefits that untreated wool offers.

3. Synthetic coating : In some cases, wool fibers are coated with a synthetic polymer to make them machine washable. This can reduce the biodegradability of wool and make it more similar to synthetic materials, which are not as environmentally friendly.

We hope you enjoyed this guide and now learned more about merino wool. Also take the opportunity to read our guide on bamboo .