WoolWeenies Club

[PamNY]

Presumably it's Steep and Cheap. I wish I'd never heard of it.

Pam

[violetpurl]

Thanks Pam!

[PamNY]

Has anyone tried merino base layer pieces by Kombi? It's less expensive than Smartwool or Icebreaker, but I don't want inferior merino.

Pam

[GLC1968]

News flash - for the male wool weenies in your lives...

Twin 6 is having a 25% off sale today only and it applies to their long sleeve wool jerseys. I'm debating - they are nice looking and I know Twin 6 does good quality work.

http://www.twinsix.com/gear/mens-tech/wooly-gray

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Has anyone tried merino base layer pieces by Kombi? It's less expensive than Smartwool or Icebreaker, but I don't want inferior merino.

Pam

Says their merino wool items are from China.
I personally won't support and don't trust '100% merino wool' from China, and I just won't buy it no matter how cheap.

[NbyNW]

I personally won't support and don't trust '100% merino wool' from China, and I just won't buy it no matter how cheap.

I only check in on this thread from time to time, so maybe this discussion has already occurred, re ethically raised/manufactured wool products?

I don't know anything about Kombi, but Icebreaker seems to make a priority of looking at sustainability and ethics at every stage of production -- there's quite a bit of space on their website devoted to this topic.

Icebreaker does send its raw wool to China for processing, and as someone who was trying to boycott anything made in China long before it was fashionable to do so, I was initially disappointed to learn this, but as I watched their videos about their production facilities, I felt reassured that they are processing their wool in a manner that is kind to the environment and humane to their workers.

I like supporting companies like this, even if it is a little harder on my pocketbook. I figure that for a quality product that supports ethical practices, it's probably money well spent, and if I take good care of my woolens, they'll last a good while.

[7rider]

Says their merino wool items are from China.
I personally won't support and don't trust '100% merino wool' from China, and I just won't buy it no matter how cheap.

Judging from the origin statement on STP, that threshold would eliminate a bulk of theiir merino*, including Icebreaker and Ibex (from my really quick scan of their available products). Most of the Smartwool socks are USA, but "imported yarn" - and some are Korean. Perhaps older stuff from thrift stores would get you non-Chinese stuff (is China your only distrust??), but even then, you never know....

* Of 296 items with the word "Merino" in it...100 also have "China" in the product description.

[OakLeaf]

IME most Smartwool socks (and other garments) come from China. You can still find some US-knit SW socks, but not by mail order - you have to read the label on every pair.

I have yet to see anything from Ibex that comes from China. Just browsing their website I'm seeing a lot of final assembly done in Fiji, which is new. Still, not to discount wages and hours, but the most toxic parts of the garment trade are in spinning and dyeing, which is still done in NZ for the vast majority of their product. And their website discloses fiber, fabric and garment source for every item they sell, which is admirable in my book.

Beyond country of origin labeling, I'm not sure what else we can do. TransFair is starting a pilot project next year to certify cotton apparel and linens, but that's next year, and they don't mention wool.

IAE I don't trust a re-seller's representation of country of origin, since with many brands, the same garment is made at multiple factories (which is why you have to read the label on every pair of SW socks).

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I have yet to see anything from Ibex that comes from China. Just browsing their website I'm seeing a lot of final assembly done in Fiji, which is new. Still, not to discount wages and hours, but the most toxic parts of the garment trade are in spinning and dyeing, which is still done in NZ for the vast majority of their product. And their website discloses fiber, fabric and garment source for every item they sell, which is admirable in my book..

That's one reason I am a big Ibex fan. They also buy their wool from ranchers who participate in a program that promotes humane treatment of sheep in commercial sheep ranching of New Zealand. I still check their country of origin when ordering a particular item, just out of habit, because I think I did notice some Chinese items a few years ago in their offerings. Haven't checked lately, but I do check any items that go into my shopping cart.
I'm not going to 'save the world' by avoiding Chinese wool products, but I believe China is the worst offender in terms of both worker and animal abuse (that's one major reason their products are so cheap), so I won't buy their products if I can help it. Just my preference.

[7rider]

I have yet to see anything from Ibex that comes from China. Just browsing their website I'm seeing a lot of final assembly done in Fiji, which is new. Still, not to discount wages and hours, but the most toxic parts of the garment trade are in spinning and dyeing, which is still done in NZ for the vast majority of their product. And their website discloses fiber, fabric and garment source for every item they sell, which is admirable in my book.

My Ibex bike jersey (I think it's called "Spin") says "Made in China".
My Ibex shak jersey says "Made in USA of imported fabric".

[nscrbug]

Has anyone tried merino base layer pieces by Kombi? It's less expensive than Smartwool or Icebreaker, but I don't want inferior merino.

Pam

Yes, Pam...I have, and honestly I wouldn't purchase a Kombi piece again. For starters, the top I bought from Sierra Trading Post was not 100% merino wool...infact, it was only like 12% merino and the rest was some other material, I forget what it was. It was really cheap (like $15) so I should have known that I was getting what I paid for. It doesn't wick moisture nearly as well as some of my other 100% merino wool tops do...and the fit isn't all that great either. It has these weird seams on the sides (I suppose they would be "princess seams"), that make it fit awkward on me. I would steer clear of Kombi stuff.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I went to a thrift store today and scored bigtime.

Two comfortable fitting black turtlenecks- one was all merino and $12, and the other was 100% cashmere and was $22 ..."as is". Just had a few tiny holes in one elbow that I can easily darn.