Fibre & Fabric Information
We have proudly developed our own specialty Merino jersey knit fabric for comfort and performance
100% Australian Merino Wool
Comfort, Performance & Durability...Naturally!
With the assistance of a Textile Chemist, Dougal Pleasance, plus years of research & development by the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) and as specialty wool growers with the knowledge of growing raw wool, we have developed our own lightweight, easy-care, 100% Merino wool jersey fabric - MERINO KNIT JERSEY.
WHAT MAKES OUR 100% MERINO FABRIC DIFFERENT
1. QUALITY SELECTION We carefully select non mulesed, raw wool from Australian farms who care for the environment, their animals & people, with the wool chosen for its exceptional qualities that ensure the best performance and comfort.
2. EXACT SPECIFICATIONS Our wool is then spun, knitted, and dyed to meet our precise specifications—each step designed with the highest standards in mind to enhance the fabric’s durability and softness.
2. NO SYNTHETICS. We do one more step in the finishing of our fabric that other companies don't do. This is a chemical FREE, very high temperature, heat setting process which stabilises the fabric giving it a tighter feel and a silky finish that feels like it has elastane but with NO synthetics.
3. LOCALLY GROWN & MADE Our Merino Wool is Grown in Australia and all our fabrics are Made in Australia supporting local jobs, businesses and communities.
We choose our raw wool on it’s characteristics to ensure the highest quality, comfort, durability and performance ensuring a soft fabric that’s ideal for sensitive skin, especially for intimate wear like underwear.
Some of these characteristics include:
Fibre Length
80-100 mm for a smoother, more durable yarn.
Fibre Diameter (Micron Count)
19.5 microns for a soft, luxurious feel
Crimp (Elasticity)
Well-defined, uniform crimp for elasticity and resilience.
Breaking Force
40-50 N (newtons) for durability
Colour
White or creamy beige for even dyeing
Elasticity
High, for natural stretch and bounce
These specifications ensure that Merino Country’s fabric offers optimal softness, durability, performance, and a high-end finish, making it ideal for creating comfortable, high-quality garments.
Our Fabric Information
MACHINE WASH & LOW HEAT TUMBLE DRY
Whilst there is some slight movement in the first wash (around 3%), it does not shrink or change it’s quality characteristics after washing and is a truly easy care product that is machine washable in both home and commercial laundries and can be tumble dried on a low heat.
To increase the life of our Wundies (underwear) we advise not to put them in a Tumble Dryer as the prolonged exposure to heat is not kind to the elastic & rubber used in waists and legs. Actually, Merino wool dries so quickly you really don't need to Tumble Dry unless it's an emergency!!
DYED in BRIGHT COLOURS or NATURAL
You can choose from either our beautiful colours inspired by nature or stick with our undyed, natural colour. The wools we choose dye evenly and vividly for rich, consistent colours with our fabrics dyed and finished in local dyehouses in Melbourne, Australia who adhere to world OekoTex 100 standards and have in place ISO9001 – Quality Management System (Aus) and ISO14001 – Environmental Management System (Aus).
Please note the natural/undyed fabric goes through one less process and is slightly more delicate than our dyed fabric. There may be slight colour variants & flecks in the natural fab/undyed fabric due to the nature of the natural wool.
SKIN FRIENDLY & NO NASTIES
We have many people with sensitive skin conditions such as eczema who wear our products & don't have any issues. We use Reactive Dyes which are skin friendly with NO aromatic amines, hydrolysed formaldehyde or soluble chromium.
TWO WEIGHTS & CONSTRUCTION TYPE
We have developed both our fabric types for comfort, performance and durability and they are processed and manufactured by Merino Country for use in all our products.
Our Merino Jersey Fabric come in two different weights and construction types - our fabrics are jersey knits which means they have natural stretch & elasticity for clothing and underwear moves with your body... Naturally!
When comparing products and fabrics remember to ask for the weight (g/m2) and fabric construction type so that you are comparing apples with apples and remember that our fabric is not the same as others and has a tighter feel.
In fabric terms, grams per meter squared (g/m²) refers to the weight of the fabric per square meter of area, and it directly impacts the feel, durability, and suitability of the fabric for various applications. Higher g/m² means a heavier, thicker fabric, while lower g/m² indicates a lighter, thinner fabric.
175 g/m² LIGHTWEIGHT - MK175 - 100% Merino Single Knit Jersey
175 g/m² - The weight of this fabric is approximately 175 grams per metre squared. We mainly use MK175 in our intimate apparel ie. jocks, boxers, shorts, womens lingerie and close fit t-shirts eg. long sleeve t's etc. It's a lightweight fabric with a fairly tight knit - great for the heat as well as the cold. There is no elastane in our fabric, we use the natural stretch of the Merino fibre.
275 g/m² HEAVYWEIGHT - MK275 - 100% Merino Double Knit Jersey (or Interlock)
275 g/m² - The weight of this fabric is approximately 275 grams per meter squared - the extra weight and the looser knit gives a little more stretch and ease of movement. We mainly use it in our thermals and outerwear, in particular pants and skirts. Great for that extra warmth. There is no elastane in our fabric, we use the natural stretch of the Merino fibre.
What is the difference between the Single Knit & Double Knit Jersey fabric?
The difference between the lightweight 175gsm (Single Knit Jersey) and heavyweight 275gsm (Interlock) is that the Lightweight Single Knit Jersey is knitted with one set of needles, where as the heavyweight Double Knit or Interlock Jersey is knitted with two.
The heavyweight interlock can be thought of as two 1X1 ribs knitted at the same time and knit together. The heavyweight interlock fabric has the same face on both sides, is thicker and stretchier, and won't curl as much as the lightweight jersey which has a much tighter knit.
Other Fabric
Every now and again we find a fabulous fabric that someone else has made and we buy it in to compliment our own fabrics. The fabrics below are all Merino Blends with different characteristics:
RIBKNIT 100gsm | 60% Merino / 40% Polyester Stretch Rib Knit
100 g/m2 - A very lightweight Merino blend with a lot of stretch. The rib knit gives the appearance of a vertical stripe. Made in Australia.
MERINO/MODEL 200gsm | 70% Merino / 25% Model (Bamboo) / 5% Spandex
200 g/m2 A medium weight Merino blend in stripes. Made in Australia.
MERINO / LYCRA 210gsm | 95% Merino / 5% Elastane
210 g/m2 - A Medium weight Merino blend with stretch 95% Merino 5% Elastane Core Spun - Merino on the outer / Lycra on the inside. Made in Australia.
Australian Owned and Made
Proudly supporting local jobs and people since 1993
Good for you & the planet
Our 100% Australian Merino is all natural
100% Australian Merino
We source our Merino from local Aussie farmers