Icebreaker

Natural outdoor clothing

The idea for the New Zealand brand Icebreaker was born over lunch in 1994. When Jeremy Moon, then 24, met sheep farmer Brian Brackenridge, Brackenridge showed him a T-shirt made of merino wool. Moon was so taken with the material that he quit his job and bought the concept behind the prototype, becoming one of the first to spot the huge potential of this natural fiber.

A year later, Icebreaker was born. The name stands for breaking the ice and developing new ideas. Starting with merino base layers sold in a handful of outdoor stores in New Zealand, the brand's high-performance clothing is now available in more than 40 countries worldwide. The range spans everything from base layers, functional apparel, sweaters and jackets to socks, hats, scarves and gloves.

Merino wool from New Zealand

It's soft, never too warm and doesn't smell even after days of wear, which is why merino products keep growing in popularity. What makes merino wool special starts with the sheep themselves. The merino sheep is one of the oldest and hardiest sheep breeds in the world. Unlike lowland sheep, merinos are built to survive both intense heat and freezing cold in the New Zealand alps.

The animals' special fleece is what lets them handle these extreme temperature swings. Light and breathable, it cools in warm conditions up to 30°C, while the winter coat protects against temperatures as low as -10°C.

Compared to regular wool, merino is noticeably lighter, less bulky and doesn't itch against the skin. Its edge over synthetic fibers lies in merino's odor-resistant properties. It's also a renewable resource that can be recycled and is biodegradable.

A functional fiber from nature

Icebreaker's fabrics are now 98.3 percent plastic-free, most of it merino wool. For certain functions, merino wool is combined with other materials. Corespun products, for example, wrap a nylon core in the finest merino wool to make the fabric more robust.

With its COOL-Lite technology, Icebreaker developed a blend of merino and plant-based TENCEL made from eucalyptus. The result is cooler than cotton, manages moisture effectively and is extremely breathable. As a "goose-friendly" alternative to down, MerinoLOFT offers an insulating, highly breathable fill that keeps you warm despite its minimal weight.

For optimal performance, Icebreaker developed the world's first natural layering system. Split into base layers, first layers, mid layers and outer layers, it offers the right outfit for any weather. The more layers, the warmer the clothing.

Sustainable sheep farming

Icebreaker's merino wool comes from New Zealand sheep farmers. Through long-term contracts, the brand builds close relationships with the farms, giving farmers security and enabling a more sustainable style of farming. Icebreaker's sheep farmers are held to strict animal welfare standards, which are regularly audited.

Back in 2008, the manufacturer was among the first companies in the industry to speak out against mulesing. Today, 93 percent of the merino wool used is ZQ certified, and 81 percent comes from ZQ+ certified farms with especially strict environmental and animal welfare standards.

(Photos: Icebreaker)