Its name is derived from the Merino sheep, which were first bred in Turkey and central Spain for their exceptionally high-grade fleeces.

Merino was such a highly prized commodity in the 17th century that anyone caught trying to export merino sheep from Spain was served with the death penalty – the Spanish were intent on having a monopoly on the coveted yarn, making it one of the most valuable materials in the industry.

Merino is no longer a life or death affair in the fashion stakes, but is still regarded as a luxury material and commands a premium.

The Antipodean nations of Australia and New Zealand are the world leaders of merino production today, with the breed first introduced by British settlers in the late 1700s. The 1800s saw the first boom of merino wool production in Australia – the large uninhabited open spaces of the uncharted continent were ideal grazing pastures for the hardy breed.

These days merino is widely used for athletic and performance wear, due to its ability to provide warmth without overheating the wearer. Merino is also moisture repellent and has antibacterial qualities due to the presence of lanolin in the yarn, along with a natural ability to draw moisture from the skin and absorb sweat.

Merino features prominently within current collections, coming in the form of jumpers, cardigans, polo tops and hosiery, which can be worn against the skin as the yarn doesn’t itch or irritate like standard sheep’s wool.

British knitwear specialist John Smedley produces some of the finest pure-merino garments, which have a clean-cut, classic appeal that will never date. Other key brands to consider include UNIQLO, AllSaints, Marks & Spencer’s Best of British range, Burberry and Reiss.

Lookbook Inspiration

Key Pieces

• Allsaints Mode Merino Crew Jumper
• Allsaints Mode Merino Open Cardigan
• Allsaints Mode Merino Hoody
• He By Mango Polo Collar Wool Sweater
• Jigsaw Merino Wool Knit Bomber Cardigan
• Merino Cardigan
• Reiss Orion Woolly Merino Crew Neck Sweater Yellow
• John Smedley Belvoir Merino Wool Rollneck Sweater
• John Smedley Cotswold Long-sleeved Merino Wool Polo Shirt
• Reiss Walter Mercerised Merino Cardigan Grey
• John Smedley Marcus Crew Neck Merino Wool Sweater
• Polo Ralph Lauren Jumper In Merino Wool Crew Neck

Final Word

The importance of fabric is obvious to see when taking a moment to ponder the creative process of fashion design. Some designers base their entire collections around this element, and begin developing concepts by first examining materials to inspire an idea, or an entirely new notion.