About Merino | Cotton
100% Pure New Zealand MERINO wool is:
- Light & Comfortable
- Non irritating, suitable for sensitive skin and eczema
- Easy Care
- Has thermo regulating properties
- Sustainable eco friendly, renewable resource
- Absorbs moisture
- Ultra fine silky fibre against baby skin
- Odour resistant
- Perfect for baby wear
What is Merino Wool?
Merino is the fleece (wool) of the Merino sheep breed, as pictured above.
Therefore, Merino is a natural, renewable and unique product that is grown in the high country of New Zealand's pristine South Island, an environment that is perfect for producing New Zealand Merino wool of world-renowned quality.
It has been around for centuries…it's Merino - nature's wonder fibre.
What makes Merino Wool so special?
Merino wool is perfect for baby clothing as it provides the ultimate microclimate, creating a buffer against changing conditions and maintaining comfort through natural 'air conditioning.' Merino's natural ability to absorb moisture, without feeling damp, contributes to Merino's excellent comfort performance as an apparel fibre…up to 30% of its weight without feeling damp.
What are the attributes of Merino Wool?
It's hard not to touch Merino wool again and again; the garments are so soft against the skin. The prickle and itch associated with traditional wool is caused by coarse fibres that irritate the skin, which does not occur with Merino - the ultra fine fibres simply bend, avoiding irritation and making Merino the ideal material to look after newborn skin. Safe and practical…. Merino is naturally flame retardant, resists odour build up, and reduces the laundry workload.
What type of garments is Merino Wool best for?
The comfort enhancing and temperature regulation properties of the 100% Pure New Zealand Merino and 100% Pure GOTS certified Organic Cotton used in Lola & Ben® products make them ideal infant and toddler clothing. Merino is rapidly becoming the fabric/fibre of choice across the spectrum from high end designer fashion to work clothing to outdoor enthusiasts climbing mountains, and obviously is the fabric discerning parents choose to keep their baby's comfortable.
Are there any alternatives to Merino Wool?
There are a myriad of fabrics available today…however only one was designed by nature to protect the human body from the environment, yet at the same time, be in harmony with it.
What about animal welfare and mulesing of wool producing sheep?
Lola & Ben® ONLY source merino from 'Free from Mulesing' farms. Our suppliers provide this assurance via supplier quality and animal welfare assurances.
GOTS Certified Organic Cotton
In 2012, as we live our lives as naturally as possible, and we aim to teach our children these vital skills for their healthy futures. We start with the products we use whilst pregnant, once born this translates to what we feed them, cleanse them, clothe and sleep them in and take care at each step to ensure make conscious decisions on what is best for baby at each step as best as we can as parents and caregivers. With newborn babies, it makes one even more sensitive and aware of the environment that we provide, naturally we want the best for our children and their environment going forward. It is perfect then that we have found the ideal GOTS Certified Organic Cotton for the Lola & Ben® Baby Organic Cotton & Merino Sleeping Bag.
This is an exciting for Lola & Ben®, and something we know our customers will cherish. This is the perfect accompaniment and a logical step to enhance our ethical and natural business stance.
A baby sleeping bag made in New Zealand from GOTS Certified Organic Cotton and New Zealand Merino…… perfect comfort always.
As your baby will spend much of their early days and nights sleeping, a comfortable & healthy sleeping environment is of paramount importance to new parents and baby alike.
Lola & Ben® GOTS Certified Organic Cotton is the perfect fabric for a baby's delicate and sensitive skin. It has been grown and processed without the use of the common agricultural chemicals.
The truth about Cotton (source Good Magazine Oct/Nov 2009)
- Cotton is one of the most chemical-intensive crops in the world. It covers 2.5% of the world's cultivated land yet uses 16% of the world's insecticides.
- WHO estimates that about one million people are poisoned and 22,000 die each year as a result of sprays used on non-organic cotton.
- It takes about 100 grams of chemicals to produce enough cotton to make one t-shirt.
- The conventional cotton industry relies on forced child labour. As many as one million children work in Egyptian cotton fields. In India, over 100,000 children work for 13 hrs a day for less than $1.