Fibre Advocacy
We collaborate with universities and institutions to identify the health benefits of wool within the areas of skin and sleep health.
To meet market demand for scientifically proven health claims regarding Merino wool’s benefits for the wearer, we manage a rigorous program of scientific studies researching the health and wellbeing benefits of wool. We collaborate with universities and institutions to identify the health benefits of Merino wool within the areas of skin and sleep health.
These collaborative projects have published research papers which demonstrate that wearing superfine Merino wool next to the skin is beneficial for eczema sufferers, wool is not an allergen and wearing wool to bed increases the quality and onset of the wearers’ sleep.
Current and recent projects
Exploring wool’s dynamic breathability
The continually growing demand for wool in active outdoor sports such as hiking, cycling and rock climbing, confirms reasonable consumer awareness of wool’s inherent moisture management and thermoregulation advantages over other fibres. Whilst this awareness of wool’s ability to maintain a more stable microclimate between the garment and the skin is reassuring, brands often need more than anecdotal evidence to prioritise raw material selection for their products. They prefer to objectively measure the attribute in their own laboratories and verify the difference.
Addressing this knowledge gap has involved funding a 3-year PhD project, followed by several years of targeted research at North Carolina State University. The subsequent four journal papers have now culminated in a new test method proposal that will soon be put to the American Standard Test Methodology committee (ASTM), as well as the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC).
This research is now informing communications promoting wool’s inherent advantages in the sportswear and active outdoor markets.
Read the published research papers here:
Clothing impact on post-exercise comfort: skin-clothing physiology in transient environment
The Exothermic Effects of Textile Fibers during Changes in Environmental Humidity
A new approach to demonstrate the exothermic behavior of textiles by using a thermal manikin
Wool is good for the skin
Wool Clothing Recommended for Infants with Eczema
The hypothesis that superfine Merino wool worn next to the skin could benefit eczema sufferers was put to the test in this AWI commissioned study led by Associate Professor John Su at Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. The study, published in the British Journal of Dermatology, showed that superfine Merino wool clothing reduced the severity of paediatric mild-moderate atopic dermatitis as compared to cotton clothing.
Significant Improvements Seen Eczema Severity when Wearing Superfine Merino wool
A study of child and adult sufferers of eczema, commissioned by AWI and undertaken by the Division of Dermatology, University of Louisville, Kentucky, has demonstrated the beneficial effects of wearing superfine Merino wool next to the skin. The study, published in the medical journal Dermatitis and led by Professor Joe Fowler, confirmed that wearing Merino wool clothing compared to standard clothing provided improvements in severity of atopic dermatitis (eczema) as well as quality of life in atopic dermatitis patients.
Wool is not an Allergen
A high-powered group of medical professionals from across the world have critically reviewed research papers that claim wool causes allergy, published during the past 100 years.. Commissioned by AWI, this analysis concluded that wool is not an allergen, and if a fabric does cause any sensations of itch and prickle on the skin then it is because of the large diameter of the fibres, and not due to the fibre type being .
Wearing Wool is Proven to Reduce and Eliminate Body Odour
The odour sorption and emission characteristics of fabrics affect their functional performance, particularly for sportswear. This study systematically evaluated the impact of wool in polyester/wool blends on body odour retention properties, and found that wool had the highest odour sorption capacity among all the test fabrics.
At low levels of body odour, fabrics containing 20% wool had substantially reduced odour intensity compared to 100% polyester. Under higher and more extreme levels of body odour, where sorption plays a more important role, 100% wool showed higher sorption capacity than the blends.
Wool promotes a better night’s sleep
Wearing Wool Sleepwear Improves Sleep Quality
This study conducted by researchers at The University of Sydney and commissioned by AWI, found that adults wearing wool fell asleep in just 12 minutes compared with 22 and 27 minutes for those wearing polyester or cotton.
“Wool regulates your body temperature far better, keeping you in what is known as 'the thermal comfort zone',” explains Associate Professor Chin Moi Chow from The University of Sydney. “You therefore not only fall asleep quicker, sleep longer, but also have deeper, better quality sleep.”
The study also found that lower humidity in the skin’s microclimate, when wearing wool sleepwear, promoted more restful sleep, in comparison to polyester and cotton sleepwear.
The Effect of Sleepwear and Bedding on Sleep at Ambient Temperatures
An earlier study, also conducted by The University of Sydney and commissioned by AWI, researched the effects of fabric for sleepwear and bedding on sleep at ambient temperatures of 17°C and 22°C.
Seventeen healthy young adults underwent nine nights of polysomnography testing and found the time it took to fall asleep was significantly shortened when sleeping in superfine Merino wool, with trends of increased total sleep time and sleep efficiency compared to cotton sleepwear. The group fell asleep four minutes faster on average when wearing Merino wool rather than cotton, taking 11 minutes instead of 15. The research paper was published in the journal Nature and Science of Sleep (2016).
