Norwegian Vibeke Kvam Johansen is living with her family in New York. After experiencing the cold winters she sat up the online shop Ella’s Wool, specialising in children’s clothes -in wool. So, what’s so great about merino and alpaca wool?

Vibeke Kvam Johansen with daughter Ella in NY. Photo by Linus Sundahl Djerf for D2 Varmer New Yorks Ullunger
Rooted in Norway, a country known for its challenging climate, Ella’s Wool offers a range of clothing for babies and children that meet the requirement of the most demanding parents in the world. We have chosen high quality wool known for its incredible softness and comfort because it does not itch at all. Only the best for our little loved ones!

No man-made fiber has ever managed to take the place of soft wool in the heart of the Norwegian people. Here is why:

1 It’s warm and cozy
Like wool in general, our wool keeps you warm. There is no need for your children to wear multiple layers of cotton and synthetics, leaving them no room to move and play. Equipping your little ones with a merino base layer directly on the skin is the most important step to let them benefit fully from the exceptional warming qualities of wool. In addition, wool from merino sheep is known for its incredible softness and its non-itch quality, so it’s ideal even for babies’ sensitive skin. On extra cold days, a second, thicker layer can be used to lock in a maximum of heat.

2 It works like a natural air conditioner for your body
Wool is not only suitable for freezing cold winter days. In fact, it’s a naturally heat regulating fabric, meaning that you can wear your merino garments in any weather conditions and be sure to feel perfectly comfortable. This is one of the reasons why wool is recommended for babies, since they are unable to express whether they’re feeling too cold or too warm.

3 It regulates moisture
On cold and rainy days you normally get wet, and on warm days you might break a sweat. The good thing about wearing wool is that the material is able to absorb moisture while letting you feel dry and comfortable. In Norway, we know that for our kids to stay healthy when spending time outdoors, they should wear wool. Cotton is to be avoided because when moist, it will cling to your body like a cold and heavy sheet.

4 It’s water resistant
What if the weather forecast calls for light rain? Then you can benefit from another virtue of merino wool, namely that it has a water repellent effect. In other words, you can brush the raindrops off your sweater before the water gets the time to soak into the wool. The fabric is also considerably stain resistant, which makes merino clothes particularly useful for toddlers.

5 It’s odor resistant
Another remarkable quality of wool is that it’s odor-repellent. Even after wearing a merino shirt multiple times, it will still feel clean and fresh.

6 It’s flame retardant
When it comes to our kids, safety is our highest priority. As opposed to many synthetic fabrics, merino wool is naturally flame retardant, and doesn’t melt when exposed to fire.

7 It’s got stretch, it’s crease resistant and it’s durable
The merino fiber has got natural stretch, it doesn’t need ironing and it’s super durable. In other words, merino clothing last a long time without showing much signs of tear and wear. In Norwegian families, merino wool garments are often passed on from sibling to sibling as they grow out of them.

8 It provides a natural sunscreen
Our skin is constantly exposed to UV light when outdoors, even when wearing clothes. However, merino wool provides a good sun protection compared to other fabrics, which is especially beneficial to a baby’s sensitive skin.

9 It’s easy to care for
All underwear from Ella’s Wool can be machine washed. And while the thicker items are hand wash only, they can be worn many times between each washing. Simply hang them to air! Perspiration will evaporate and bacteria are in any case not attracted to stay on the scaly surface of merino fibers.

10 It’s sustainable
Caring for our kids’ future also implies caring for the planet. When choosing merino wool, you’re being environmentally friendly, because it’s a renewable, recyclable and biodegradable natural fiber.