The Reason Why Icebreaker's Merino Wool Has Been Loved for Years

icebreaker, an outdoor wear brand known for its high-quality Merino wool products from New Zealand. As a rare company that focuses on natural materials in the outdoor industry, where performance under harsh conditions is crucial, their unique initiatives always draw attention.
 
In the fall of 2022, they launched new innerwear made from the brand's finest and softest material to date, the 15.5μm (micrometer) "Superfine Merino 300 Weight." This move reaffirmed that tech-wear is not limited to synthetic fibers.
 
This time, we spoke with Daigo Yukimura, the manager of the icebreaker business department at Goldwin Inc., to delve into the brand and learn more about the allure of Merino wool.

New Zealand, like Japan, is surrounded by sea and boasts vast, varied landscapes. Known as a treasure trove of nature, this country has produced many globally beloved outdoor brands that captivate outdoor enthusiasts worldwide.

One such New Zealand brand is "icebreaker." With Goldwin as its distributor in Japan, we can find their products across the country. But what kind of background does icebreaker have? We first asked Yukimura about the brand's origins.
 
"icebreaker was founded in 1995. As a globally expanding outdoor brand, it is relatively new.
 
"Our flagship business, 'The North Face,' has nearly twice the history, being born during the backpacking boom of the 1960s. From the 1980s to the 1990s, as the outdoor market grew, so did the demand for high-performance fibers.
 
"In contrast, icebreaker was born in an era when the latest technological developments were the norm in the outdoor industry, focusing on natural materials. This contrast is fascinating.