One of wool’s most useful natural properties is its ability to ‘breathe’. Wool can absorb up to 35% of its own weight in moisture due to its hydrophilic core, which is then released as vapour into the air. This in-built characteristic is permanent and is one of the reasons that wool is such a versatile fibre, with so many applications.
Thanks to its natural and high level of breathability, wool is ideal for many end uses:
- Next-to-skin activewear products such as underwear, socks, base layers or performance t-shirts, where its ability to breathe offers sustained comfort during extended sport, outdoor, travel, general work and everyday activities
- Sleepwear – wool continually absorbs moisture away from the body and releases it as vapour into the air, keeping the sleeper dry and comfortable, and improving sleep quality and duration
- Bedding and mattresses – wool’s breathability reduces humidity and keeps temperatures from rising in the immediate environment, limiting the opportunities for dust mites to develop, improving sleeping conditions, particularly for allergy and asthma sufferers.
Wool’s breathability is natural, inherent and permanent. It comes hand in hand with wool’s excellent odour resistance, which also makes product care more straightforward. While synthetic clothes must be washed regularly to sustain properties such as breathability, wool can easily be freshened up through airing.