What is merino wool?

The merino is one of the world’s most ancient breeds of sheep.
and one of the toughest.

Unlike regular sheep who chew grass in the lowlands, the merino is built to survive the scorching summers and freezing winters of New Zealand’s rugged Southern Alps range.

30°C

In summer

-10°C

In winter

Simple, efficient, ingenious.
Nature’s solutions aren’t tested in laboratories.

The merino can survive these extremes because of the incredible natural engineering of their fleece. Super lightweight and breathable, the merino’s summer coat keeps cool in temperatures of up to +30°C. In winter, the merino grows an extra layer of wool over their base coat to protect them against temperatures that plummet to -10°C.

Simple, efficient, ingenious. Nature’s solutions aren’t tested in laboratories; they face the ultimate field test. If nature gets it wrong, the sheep dies.

The weather can be pretty extreme here, and the dark sides of the valley can be frozen for a couple of months over winter.

Glen Curtis – owner of Branch Creek Station

Bigger than the Swiss and Austrian Alps combined, the Southern Alps run down the backbone of New Zealand’s South Island.

icebreaker performs in temperatures of -10°c and we are still wearing them in summer when the heat can reach 30°c or more.

Glen Curtis – owner of Branch Creek Station

The merino in New Zealand graze at up to 6000ft in high country stations up to 100,000 acres in size.