Introduction to Merino sheep

Merino sheep are a wonder of nature. They’ve adapted to survive freezing temperatures and hot summers, primarily thanks to their special thermoregulating wool coat. The Merino breed originated many centuries ago, and they’re now primarily bred in and around the Southern hemisphere - including New Zealand - as they’re perfectly suited to the harsh, changeable climate, and thrive in the rugged brush, bush and mountains of this beautiful natural landscape.

Merino wool is now a firm fixture within the wool industry due to its famous versatility, moisture management and temperature regulation properties, plus unbeatable softness, making it perfect for all-weather clothing and accessories.

In this article, we’ll look at the impressive Merino sheep breed to discover the merino wool origins and its benefits, and answer key questions including: where does merino wool come from originally, where is merino wool from now, and what is so special about this unique fleece?

History and origin of Merino sheep

Merino wool’s origins lie in the 12th century, and they’re now commonly associated with New Zealand who are amongst the world’s leading exporters of this precious wool. Merino sheep were thought to have descended from a wild sheep breed called the Mouflon, and were particularly well suited to warmer climates thanks to their naturally breathable fleece, which helps keep them cool.

Introduced to New Zealand in the 18th century, Merino sheep have played a vital part in New Zealand's agricultural heritage ever since. They’re perfectly adapted to thrive in the unique New Zealand climate, which can fluctuate between searing summers (over 30°C) to freezing winters (-10°C), as their soft, natural fleece adapts to the external conditions to keep them cool in the heat and warm in the cold.

Our history with Merino sheep began in 1995, and icebreaker have continued to celebrate this prized natural material by creating high-performance, temperature-regulating apparel for the whole family to wear all year round. It’s thanks to these impressive sheep that we can harness the power of their soft, naturally odour resistant and resilient natural wool fibres, whilst respecting our growers and animals alike.

Physical characteristics of Merino sheep

The recognisable qualities of the Merino sheep are that they have very soft, fine woolly coats, and generally have white faces, legs and a white fleece. The Merino is a medium sided sheep breed, and, depending on their age and gender, they are generally around 1.4 meters in height and mature adults can weigh between 55 and 100kg.

Merinos have a fascinating, breathable coat which comprises two layers of wool; a thick undercoat, which helps to manage moisture and trap air to keep the sheep cool in the heat and warm in the cold, as well as a coarser outer layer of fleece to protect them and help them stay dry. Merino wool tends to be strong, lightweight, soft to the touch and fairly uniform in both length and colour. It’s the combined benefits of breathability, softness, resilience, thermoregulation and natural odour resistance which makes Merino wool fabric such a sought-after material for making a wide range of clothing.