CURIO Practice and wool go hand-in-hand. Our use of this fibre, like everything we do, is considered and purposeful, and its qualities, aesthetic and functional, are many.

Why Do We Use Wool?

Naturally breathable, biodegradable, and resistant to fire and UV radiation, wool is unique in its softness, durability and ease of care. It's also one of the world's most historically significant fibres, relied on for its seasonal versatility, endurance and blending ease in 20th century post-war fashion, as well as farming and service industry uniforms.

Wool flocks are bred by those who have a deep, often generationally-informed understanding of rearing animals grown and utilised for their fleece, and are the practitioners at the core of CURIO Practice.

Australian Merino wool, the specific breed of wool we use, can be traced back to the land upon which it was bred, thanks to our advanced industry systems, thereby ensuring the origin and quality of the wool is verifiable and maintains its connection to place.

Warm When It's Cool, Cool When It's Hot

Wool fibers have the ability to absorb large amounts of moisture vapour, thereby directing moisture away from its immediate surroundings and back into the air to evaporate. Merino wool, in particular, is an active fibre, meaning it ‘breathes’ and has the ability to react to fluctuations in body temperature, helping you stay warm when it’s cold and cool when it’s hot.

Odour Resistant

Think of Merino wool as the original sweat-wicker before synthetics were delivered to the masses; not only does it absorb moisture vapour (sweat) but also the odour molecules from our perspiration that are then released upon washing. Et voila! Who’d have thought the perfect year-round, globe-trotting companion would be a sheep? (Us… We did.)

Soft on Sensitive Skin (and a sensitive earth)

On average, as reported by global wool authority The Woolmark Company, wool uses 18% less energy than polyester and almost 70% less water than cotton to produce 100 sweaters.

So, how does that affect me if I can't wear wool sweaters because of my sensitive skin? Merino wool is ‘superfine’, meaning its fibre is smoother than other breeds of wool, generating an almost unparalleled softness that won’t irritate human skin, even those with inflammatory sensitivities like eczema.