Did you know wool is considered a luxury fiber? Some “wool” garments are made with synthetic substitutions, and they are still great products, but most wool garments are not “cheap”. It’s an investment piece and therefore should be treated with care when cleaning and storing.
Why is wool so luxurious? There are a number of reasons.
It’s durable: Wool fiber can withstand being bent 20,000 times without breaking. (Cotton breaks after 3,000 bends and silk after 2,000. Rayon can only be bent 75 times without breaking). The fibers stretch rather than break and they spring back with the pressure is released. Hence, wool garments tend to retain their shape and the fabric is resistant to tearing.
It’s Absorbent: Wool wicks moisture away from the body – absorbing up to 30% of its weight in moisture – keeping you warm without the wet. Wool will protect your body in cold and warm conditions. It’s versatile for all seasons.
It’s Comfy: Because wool keeps heat close to the body, it’s a great insulator. Small amounts of liquid such as spills, light rain or snow will stay on the surface and run off the fabric. Even when wool is saturated, it retains 80% of its insulating value.
It’s Resistant: Wool is not easily stained or spotted by grease and oils. It does not wrinkle easily and is resistant to wear and tear.
It’s Flame Retardant: Wool will not melt into the skin like many fabrics. When exposed to flame, it chars or smolders. It’s self-extinguishing. When the flame is removed, burning stops. It will not support combustion. This is why many baby blankets are made with wool and why wool blankets are recommended for use in extinguishing small fires.
It’s not Stinky: Wool is resistant to odors. When sweat remains on the skin, bacteria will develop and create an odor. Since wool wicks sweat away so it can evaporate into the air, bacteria (and stink) doesn’t have a chance to generate.
Wool items are great this time of year due to their warmth and durability. And we can help keep your wool items looking like new. In fact, our next Limited Time Offer will save you some money on cleaning some of your wool items.
In the meantime, here’s more information on how to store your wool items in winter and how often you should dry clean your wool coat.
What’s your favorite wool item or accessory?
– S.O.
