We humans are inventors. But not all manmade inventions improve upon nature. We like to think that nature got a lot of things right the first time.
Like merino fiber. It’s nature’s any-and-every-adventure fabric — it keeps you warm in the cold, cool in the heat, fights odor, and wicks away moisture. Oh, and it’s really super soft. Thank you, dear Mother Nature.
But in today’s manmade world, manufactured fibers account for the majority of all fiber consumed — or, worn — in the United States. What’s a manmade fiber? Polyester, for one, which is made from petroleum.
Environmentally responsible manufacturers will recycle plastic soda bottles (which are, of course, petroleum-based) to make synthetic fibers. In general, 25 bottles make one garment. So next time you take a swig from a plastic water bottle, you’ll know that it may become the sleeve of your child’s fleece next time you see it.
We applaud responsible manufacturers that use recycled plastic to create manmade fabrics. But we believe that there is a better alternative to plastic (recycled or not): merino wool.
For one thing, wool is a natural fiber, which means that it won’t last for centuries like all the plastic floating in our oceans. It breaks down over time, returning to the Earth.
Polyester doesn’t break down. It lasts and lasts and lasts — a long time beyond its expiration. As Outside Magazine revealed, “washing a single polyester jacket can send 1,900 tiny synthetic micro-fibers into waterways, where they can soak up toxins and get eaten by fish.” Outside Magazine, “Plastics: Fleeced” (August 2015).
We believe in wool. It’s the original any-and-every-adventure fabric. You can wear it, wash it, and love it without reserve. And to boot, it carries nature’s adventurous spirit.
Nature has a way of providing if we let her. So let her provide.