PB FABRIC FACTS

The ultimate wool guide: which type suits you best?

We often tend to lump all types of wool together, but that's unfair. While one type of wool can be fuzzy, another can be smooth, and where you might be sensitive to one, another can feel quite comfortable.

Cashmere

Alpaca Wool

Mohair

Merino Wool

Cool Wool

Virgin Wool

Sheep Wool

Blends

Wool Care

Do you want to know more about wool care?

Discover our easy 5-step guide here.

Blog by:

Marissa

Do you have an urgent question about a particular fabric and its properties? Marissa knows everything about fabrics and provides the best maintenance tips. Additionally, she has a talent for mixing and matching styles and materials with a contemporary nonchalance.

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The finest of them all: cashmere. Derived from the cashmere goat, this type of wool is known for its extra-fine, long and soft fibers that offer great insulation, even at a low weight. That’s why cashmere knits often come in a fine gauge: that’s simply all you need to be comfy all day long. Pricey? Yes… But knowing that the cashmere goat only delivers that high-quality wool once a year and only the downy undercoat can be used, it’s not that surprising.

If you prefer strong, durable knits, you probably love alpaca wool. The semi-hollow fiber ensures that alpaca wool is up to three times stronger than regular sheep wool, offering great temperature regulation and a very low weight. This ultra-soft type of wool is naturally hypoallergenic because it’s lanolin-free. Sensitive to itchy sweaters or allergic to lanolin? Then this type of wool is for you. When knitted, alpaca wool is recognized by a fuzzy structure with many small ‘hairs’ on the surface.

Into luxury wool? Let’s continue with mohair. You will recognize mohair knits immediately, because it creates volume and fluffiness, without adding weight. This is due to the fact that the angora goat (not to be confused with angora wool) that provides mohair has long, silky-soft, curly hair with a natural sheen. Those curly hairs are also the reason that mohair knits are often extra stretchy and shape-restoring. On the other hand, the fibers are that fine that mohair knits are prone to shedding.

You should consider merino wool as the luxury take on regular sheep wool. This soft and lightweight type of wool is known for being naturally odor resistant and breathable. That’s why slim-fit knits are often crafted from merino wool. And because the merino sheep lives in a warm climate, the fiber is longer, smoother and finer in comparison with other types of wool – so it doesn’t itch!

Factually, this is not a type of wool but rather a type of fabrication that is commonly used for tailoring. Simply put, it’s the fine woven, ultra-strong version of wool and characterized by its long, smooth fibers (also known as worsted yarn) that offers great temperature regulation and crease resistance. The ideal properties for all-year round items that you want to wear for years to come.

This type of wool has its own quality mark. It ensures that the wool comes from a living, healthy sheep and has not been reprocessed. And that’s noticeable when you look at the fibers; their properties are unaffected and they have a natural sheen to it.

If we talk about pure wool, it concerns sheep wool without a clear breed such as merino wool. Sheep wool comes in many variations – from fine to chunky, woven or knitted, or even felted – making the properties differ per item. The coarser scales of the wool fiber provide perfect insulation, moisture regulation and breathability, but are therefore also more likely to itch if you have sensitive skin. Hate itchy sweaters? Read our blog and learn how to minimize itchiness. Also, pure wool garments are prone to prilling. But don't let that hold you back, because with our wool razors your garment will look like new again.

To add strength, to optimize color vibrance, or to combine the best properties of different wool types: there are many reasons for a brand to choose a material mix. You may think that pure wool knits offer the highest quality, but often the opposite is true. For example extreme cashmere – in our opinion the brand that delivers the most beautiful cashmere blend knits – adds polyamide to the mix to make colors more lively and to ensure shape retention, making the garment last for years.

For all types of wool count: wash them as least as possible. This is simply not necessary, because wool is self-cleaning and naturally antibacterial. The less you wash wool, the better the fiber will remain. In many cases, airing does the trick. Is washing unavoidable? Then use a special wool detergent to protect the fibers from pilling.