What does wool have to do with an Italian challenge between New Zealand and Australia?
You may think that rugby and the Beldisloe cup is the biggest rivalry between old foes New Zealand and Australia, there is however another challenge between the two countries that is just as fierce.
The Loro Piana Challenge Cup is a competition between Australian and Kiwi merino wool producers for the title of finest wool in the world.
So what's the big deal? Isn't it all just that fluffy stuff on a sheep's back?
Spot on but when it's whipped off the sheep that's when the answer is a definite no, not all wool is created equally and the merino is the king of wool and known the world over for its quality, softness and performance.
To judge how fine merino wool is you measure the diameter which is then expressed in microns. Marino wool is generally lower than 24 micron in diameter. To compare this to other wools a blend used for carpets can measure as high as 45 plus microns.
But that's not where it ends for the quality of Marino wool, there are varying degrees of fineness within Marino fleeces. A guide is that the wool will range between being classed as:
Strong in the 23-24 micron range,
Medium: between 19.5 and 23 micron,
Then we move into the really soft stuff
Fine is 18.5 - 19.5,
Superfine 15 - 18.5
And the impressively named Ultra Fine will measure from 11.5 - 15 micron.
Prized for its uses in athletic clothing, Merino wool has a number of abilities that make it far superior to synthetic fabrics.
Merino wool pulls sweet away from the body and absorbs water but at the same time doesn't lose warmth when holding this water. This soft fabric is excellent at regulating body temperature and has excellent warmth to weight ratio.
Ultrafine merino wool is also coveted for use in high end luxury clothing and suits - that's where Loro Piana comes in they purchase only the best bales of merino wool each year for production of their business suits which can retail for over €15,000 Euro. If you're paying that much for a suit you would want to know that you're wearing the best.
So who has the finest wool? Well don't tell the kiwis but the ledger is stacked a lot higher in the Australian column with the Kiwis having only won once in the last decade, that victory however with a world record 10.9 micron average shows the kiwis know how to win in style.
So whether you love the soft feeling of fabric or love the outdoors - merino is defiantly what you want to be pulling on.
To fins out more about merino wool check out Nz Natural Clothing - based in New Zealand they know a thing or two about Merinos and the great products that their wool can be used for.
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