Merino wool - why is it ideal for fashion fabrics and tailoring?

While at Wool House last week I met Lesley Prior, Artisan Project Manager at The Campaign For Wool and owner of Devon Fine Fibres, where she produces English merino and cashmere wools. Lesley is obviously passionate about the properties of merino wool, among the finest and softest from any sheep breed. Lesley explained to me the properties which make merino ideal for fashion fabrics and tailoring.

Image Woolpower.se

Below you can see a small sample of wool from one of Lesley's sheep. As you can see from the photo, the fibres are naturally and very finely crimped, extremely soft and several times thinner than a human hair. The properties that make it ideal for luxury clothing include -

It regulates body temperature very well by wicking moisture away from the skin and providing warmth without overheating the wearer.
It absorbs water well, but remains warm.
It contains lanolin which make it antibacterial and water resistant.
Its structure helps it to trap air, making it an ideal insulator.
It's very soft and elastic, so that, when woven in to a cloth, it has good crease resistance.

Quite apart from these advantages, of course, it's a renewable resource. A sheep provides fleeces for many years without depleting scarce natural resources, as do many man made fibres. Merino wool is popular for everything from athletic base layers to high-end suits. One day I'll have a merino suit, I hope!