A merino wool gilet needs very little washing. Air it between wears, give it a brush now and then, steam out any creases, and dry clean it only occasionally. I’ve had mine for eighteen months and dry cleaned it once and it still looks perfect.
The one that’s always to hand
My gilet never really gets put away. It lives on the back of a chair, by the door, in the car. It goes on over a shirt for work, a jumper on the school run, and a dress for supper.
Eighteen months on, it still looks the way it did when it arrived.
Why merino doesn’t need much washing
Our Gilet is made from 100%, Woolmark certified merino wool - so no synthetic fibres at all. The lanolin in wool naturally resists odour and dirt, it also allows your skin breathe so you'll rarely feel like you're over heating when wearing natural wool. It doesn't need washing after every wear – in fact, it doesn't need washing very often at all. Less washing also means the fibres stay soft and the texture keeps its shape.
How I care for my merino gilet
1. Air it. Most of the time, that’s all it needs. Hang it overnight or by an open window.
2. Brush it. Every so often, a wool comb lifts the texture and keeps it looking lovely. A bit of light matting is to be expected under the arms or where a bag might rub the fabric but regular combing will rectify this.
3. Steam it. Sitting against a chair, or in the car for a long drive, can leave a crease in the back. A quick steam and it’s gone.
4. Dry clean it, rarely. I’ve done it once in eighteen months. While natural wool can be hand-washed cold using a wool detergent, the fabric manufacturer recommends dry cleaning to keep you gilet looking best for years to come.
Questions I’m often asked
How often should you wash a merino gilet?
Rarely. Airing it between wears is usually enough. Dry clean it only when it really needs it.
How do the 3 different colours of the fabric differ?
The toasted almond fabric is slight softer in handle than the cream and charcoal and it has more stretch in the fabric.
The charcoal fabric is slighly flatter and more regular in texture than the cream and toasted almond.
All fabrics are dyed natural wool, a small amount of variation between texture and colour is to be expected.
How do you get creases out of a merino gilet?
A light steam. Creases from sitting usually drop out in seconds with a steam iron or place it in the bathroom when youre having a shower.
Is a merino gilet itchy?
Ours has a soft fleece wool texture and isn’t itchy. It’s lined in 100% cotton jersey.
Is it sheepskin?
No. It’s made from 100% merino wool, not sheepskin.
Where is it made?
Our wool comes from New Zealand and the fabric is woven in Italy. A small family-run atelier in Lithuania cuts and sews our gilets.
Still deciding? Read Are merino wool gilets worth it? or see how I style mine.
Leave a comment