Organic Merino Wool Clothing for Children
From LoveToKnow Organic
Organic Merino wool clothing for children has a superior softness to most wool clothing. Merino wool is finely crimped wool that is soft enough for a baby to wear next to her or his skin. Merino wool has been considered the finest wool in the world for nearly ten centuries.
History of Merino Sheep
The Merino sheep were first introduced into Spain around the 12th century by an Arabic-Moors tribe. Because of the wool’s superiority, Spain soon monopolized the wool trade and maintained that monopoly for the next four hundred years by controlling the ownership of Merino sheep.
The Spanish restricted the ownership of Merino sheep to the church and various Spanish nobles. Soon the sheep owners organized and became known as the Mesta. Part of the plan to control this valuable commodity was to refine, develop and build the breed. The Mesta cultivated and created three major Merino bloodlines. These three bloodlines are the forefathers of the modern world's Merino flocks:
- Royal Escurial flocks
- Negretti
- Paula
Until the 18th century the exporting of Merinos was outlawed and punishable by death. When Merino sheep were finally allowed to be exported, it was still a very controlled process. At first the sheep were only sent to relatives of the Mesta. Eventually, the Merino were exported to other herders, but still under a very controlled and restricted basis. Today, most of the certified organic Merino wool is from New Zealand.
Why Choose Merino Wool?
Many believe that wool allergies are not from the wool itself, but the chemical processes, dyes and even the living environment of the sheep. If your child has a chemical intolerance or allergies you may discover because of the stringent growing and processing of organic Merino wool she or he can wear this organic wool clothing.
Merino wool is not the typical scratchy wool you may expect. It’s naturally soft, and like all wool, it will keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. That’s because of the breathable quality of its fiber. This is just one of the things that make Merino wool so desirable.
Other qualities of Merino wool are:
- It has the ability to absorb up to 30% of its weight in moisture and still not feel wet.
- Like all wool it is naturally antimicrobial, antibacterial, and antifungal.
- Dust mites do not live in wool.
- Natural durability and insulation properties
- Natural fire resistance
- Natural water repellent (rain) while having superior moisture absorbency (from skin)
- Soft and plush fibers – safe for infants
- Natural elasticity to fiber
- Little to no build-up of odor
This makes Merino wool ideal apparel for infants and children. You can easily understand why this Golden Fleece, as it’s called, is considered one of the world’s most luxurious wools.
Certified Organic Wool
If you think organic certification is restricted to consumable foods, then you’ll be surprised to know that wool can also be a certified organic. When you buy certified organic wool products, you can be certain that no chemicals or pesticides were used in the growing and harvesting of the wool just as you would be with food products. To qualify for organic certification, sheep farmers must prove their herds are fed organics and that the living environment is free of harmful chemicals and other non-organic elements.
You can be assured of a small carbon footprint since wool is a renewable and sustainable resource.
How the Wool Is Processed
The processing of the wool once it leaves the farm will also be through a certified organic processing plant. The wool is carded and then spun into yarn. Again, no harmful chemicals are used in this process. Any processing agents used must be certified biodegradable. The mills that process Merino wool are also certified organic and make sure that the wool is never stored or housed near any other wool. Whenever you buy Merino wool products, you can be proud that you’re a part of a world where no harm has been done in the processing or creation of the wool.
Buy: Organic Merino Wool Clothing for Children
Organic wool is a perfect choice for children’s clothing. It is durable, long lasting, and can be worn all year. You can purchase organic Merino wool clothing for children at the following websites:
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