Wool is the new black.
Everything you need to know about shopping for natural fibers.
The apparel industry is changing—and you don’t have to be a fashion expert to see it. If your eyes are open and your finger is even remotely on the pulse, you’ve probably noticed it already.
One day (read: over many years) it seems like we all woke up to the dangers of fast fashion. As consumer demand began to shift, people started paying closer attention to the fabrics in their clothing and unfortunately, what we found wasn’t pretty. Especially in the outdoor industry.
For the past ~30 years, the outdoor industry has become over-reliant on plastic clothing. And it makes sense. Polyethylene terephthalate, or PET fibers (the chemical compound that makes polyester) are inexpensive and very easy to mass produce. Plus, there’s no denying that an Arc’teryx Beta jacket will keep you drier than a wool sweater in pouring rain.
While there have been incredible innovations in materials and textile science, particularly when it comes to waterproofing, we should remember that for hundreds (thousands, really) of years, “outdoor” clothing was made with natural materials.
My Italian grandparents skied in wool sweaters and waxed cotton coats, their grandparents and family members wore cotton while working in the agricultural industry in Argentina, and their ancestors survived cold winters and hot summers in 100% natural fiber clothing for millennia before plastic ever existed.
But now, you’ll notice that fabrics made from plastic are everywhere. And when I say everywhere, I mean there are 100% acrylic, polyester, or nylon composition in products that have no business using that much plastic (like, let’s say sweaters for example!? Wtf.)
What’s even more alarming is that polyester is used in roughly 57% of all fiber textiles, with nylon and other synthetics comprising another 10%.
I think we can all agree, the less plastic we use, the better.
Environmentally, plastic is a disaster. And when it comes to our health, it’s even worse. PET clothing fibers are made by burning fossil fuels, they don’t biodegrade, and they constantly shed tiny plastic particles into the air, soil, and waterways. From microplastics leeching into our skin, and the lack of antimicrobial properties — we really should not be relying on these materials as the main ingredient for products that directly touch our skin, particularly when we sweat. (That said, like with everything else in this world, there is some nuance here and we’ll dive deeper on this in a minute.)
With the rise of fast fashion and mass produced clothing, we’ve completely lost touch with what clothing is supposed to look and feel like. Ultimately, we all just want clothes that, well, actually feel like clothes. Clothes that look like you could have made them by hand if you had the skills, time, and materials to do so.
And the fabric most likely to meet that quality standard? It’s wool.
Wool has quietly become the fabric every clean fashion consumer is looking for. It’s naturally biodegradable, it’s antimicrobial, it’s temperature-regulating, it’s durable, it’s… nearly perfect.
Having just spent a year (and some change) designing a ski-apparel line made primarily from wool, we do feel we’ve earned the authority to say so. But! I must add, all wool is not created equal and there are some things you should know before going ram-wild.
Welcome to…
Wool 101: An informal introduction to the hottest fiber in fashion textiles right now
Everything you need to know to start shopping wool
What is wool?
Wool is a textile fiber obtained from sheep and other mammals, including: llamas, alpacas, camels, rabbits, goats, and many others. The type of animal and the specific breed determines the type of wool. For example, Merino wool comes from Merino sheep.
Fun fact: Vincuña wool (sourced from wild Vicuñas) is the most expensive type of wool, selling for around $10,000 per kilogram of finished yarn. Vicuna finished products typically sell for over $20,000. Like this $24,000 Vicuna + Cashmere jacket from Loro Piana
What types of wool are used in clothes?
The most commonly used wool types in clothing are…
Merino: Sourced from Merino sheep, merino is arguably the most popular wool in performance clothing. It’s known for being soft, fine, and non-itchy. Plus, it’s temperature-regulating and moisture-wicking—making it great for athletic apparel.
*Our Men’s and Women’s Baselayers are made of 100% Merino wool and our Men’s and Women’s Sport Coats are all made of a 60% blend.
Cashmere: Sourced from the undercoat of Cashmere goats, usually raised in Mongolia and China. Cashmere is known for being soft and lightweight with a ~luxurious~ feel. It’s less durable than other wools and tends to sit at a higher price point.
Mohair: Sourced from Angora goats, mohair has a distinctive silky sheen and is known for being strong, durable, and resilient. It has a slightly more textured, fluffy appearance compared to other wools and is often used in knitwear and outerwear.
Lambswool: This is wool taken from a sheep’s first shearing, typically when the animal is around seven months old. Because it’s a first clip, the fibers are extremely soft and fine, making it a step up in quality from standard sheep’s wool. You may hear it referred to as virgin wool.
Alpaca: Alpaca wool is known for being incredibly soft, lightweight, and warm—often compared to cashmere in terms of luxury feel. It’s naturally hypoallergenic, making it a great option for those with sensitive skin!
*Our Men’s and Women’s Dinner Sweaters are made from alpaca wool and our Mohair Blanket Scarf is made of, you guessed it: mohair wool! (almost done bragging)
Should I trust a wool blend?
Yes! With caution.
Technically, a wool-blend is any fabric that consists of at least 20% wool. This is where you really want to pay attention to percentages of your clothes because a lot of brands love to greenwash the composition of their materials to appear more natural.
Ultimately, a quality wool blend should consist of at least 60% wool (like our Sport Coat and Baselayers). More often than not, the remaining composition is made from synthetic fabrics like nylon, polyester, or spandex (remember when I said I would circle back on plastics?)
The truth is, while we try to reduce our use of synthetics as much as possible, having just a little bit in a wool or cotton blend is often necessary to create a machine-washable product. Trust me, we put this to the test during our R&D phase.
As wool rises in popularity, we’ve noticed some brands marketing 100% wool pieces as performance-ready, but when you read the fine print, the instructions say absolutely no machine washing or drying. This is where they lose me. I do not know a single person who is consistently washing their athletic apparel by hand. So for the sake of everyone’s sanity, a little blend for practicality doesn’t hurt.
Just pay attention to the ratio. Remember: aim for 60%+!
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There you have it — a quick crash course on the material that’s (hopefully) coming to a closet near you.
Shop smart, read the fine print, and when in doubt, aim for that 60%+. Your skin, your wardrobe, and the planet, will thank you.
Cheers,
Cristina
Love this overview! Appreciate Yardsale being intentional with the tensions of sustainability, function, design, and even care (handwashing everything you sweat in isn't practical) when developing pieces.