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Wool
Natural fiber Soft Breathable Temperature-regulating
Wool is a natural material that has been used in textiles for thousands of years. In our knitted garments we use different types of high-quality wool yarns, from some of the most respected suppliers in the world. The wool can be collected from sheep, but also from other animals such as goats, camels and yaks. Depending on its origin, the properties of the wool are different.
About wool
Wool is probably best known for being warming, but is a fantastic material based on its temperature-regulating properties. The curly fibers create air pockets that insulate the body against both cold and heat. The wool fibers breathe and absorb moisture, which gives a dry and cool feeling against the skin.
In a way, wool is self-cleaning as bad odors are absorbed and the natural fat lanolin, that encapsulates the wool fibers, makes the surface of the material dirt-repellent. This means that wool garments rarely need to be washed. Instead, the garments stay fresh by airing and gently using a clothing brush, which is positive from an environmental point of view. A garment made of 100% wool is also recyclable and sometimes also biodegradable, depending on dyeing or the chemicals that may have been used during production.
Stenströms x wool
In our knitted garments, we use different types of wool yarn sourced from some of the world's leading yarn suppliers. The look and softness of the garment largely depends on the knitting technique being used, however the thickness of the yarn, the type of wool and the dyeing all plays a part. By combining different materials, you can also bring more properties into the garment. For example, our cashmere and silk blend is very popular for its exquisite soft feel. The cashmere has warming and soft properties, the silk adds shine and additional softness to the garment.
Merino wool
Merino wool comes from the merino sheep and is very fine and soft, in comparison to conventional wool. We use merino wool in many of our knitted garments. In comparison to synthetic fibers, merino wool is an active fiber, so it helps you stay warm when the weather is cold, and cool when the weather is hot. Due to these natural characteristics, merino wool garments fit all year around and you will always find them in our collections, regardless the season.
The Merino wool comes from Australia and New Zealand were the merino sheep lives in the free and they are shaved once a year. Each sheep gives 1 to 14 kilo wool each year which gives fibers to produce 3 to 42 sweaters. A merino sheep can produce up to 103 kilos of wool in its lifetime. The merino wool fiber is very strong as it can bend back on itself 20,000 times without breaking. This may be compared with cotton which bend 3,200 times, silk 1,800 and viscose only 75 times.
Cashmere
One of the most luxurious materials in the world, and a true classic in the wardrobe is the cashmere garment. Cashmere comes from the Kashmir goat and has a very soft and airy-light feel and texture. The material is ideal when you want to stay warm because cashmere fiber has more loft than, for example merino wool, meaning that it's more insulating.
Initially, pilling occurs because of the fabric rubbing against itself or another surface. Pills can be easily removed using a wool comb or garment brush, and soon the amount of new pilling will decrease.
The cashmere goat
The cashmere goat lives in an extremely cold climate at the high heights of the Gobi Desert, which extends between China, Mongolia, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The largest part of cashmere wool is today produced in China, but the cashmere goat has its roots from Mongolia where cashmere wool has been produced for thousands of years.
The goats get shaved and combed when the weather gets warmer once a year, and they are no longer in need of their coats. It takes about two to four years for a goat to produce enough wool to knit one cashmere sweater, so it is understandable that cashmere products are a bit more expensive than other knitted garments.
Yak
The majestic yak is a long-haired bovid animal that lives freely on the highest heights in the world, in the Himalayas. Its unique coat allows the animals to survive harsh weather conditions. The yak wool is 30% warmer than sheep's wool and has a better breathability than cashmere, however the thickness and hand feel can be equally compared.
The natural color of yak is chocolate brown, but the fibers can be dyed in a wide variety of colors. In order to maintain the natural color of the fiber, the color scale usually goes to the darker tones to avoid using bleach. Every year each yak gives only 100g of fine fiber which translates into one third of a 100% yak wool sweater.
Alpaca
The alpaca is a camelid closely related to the llama, which lives in the central Andes of South America. Alpaca wool is very exclusive, as the number of animals and suppliers in the world is significantly fewer compared to, for example the cashmere goat. Since alpaca wool does not contain the fat lanolin like sheep wool does, it is considered a hypoallergenic fiber that may be preferred by those with sensitive skin. The natural oils that cover the fibers are still repellent to dirt and dust.
A garment made of alpaca wool feels very light with a softness comparable to cashmere. This is because of the very fine and hollow cell structure of which the fibers are made. The alpaca wool is a pure natural wool and since there is a wide range of different natural colors, chemical dyeing is rarely needed.
Using only the best fabrics and trims, we craft classic and contemporary clothing that has become internationally renowned. The perfect fit and feel based on more than 125 years of sustainable craftsmanship.
