The merits of merino wool are many. It is sustainable, biodegradable, breathable, soft to the touch, a natural insulator, and has a unique ability to adapt to changes in your body’s temperature. However, these benefits sometimes overshadow some ethical considerations.

I used to believe that harvesting a sheep’s wool was akin to a haircut. Then a few years ago Peta.org released footage showing a number of horrifying animal right abuses in the shearing sheds in the US and Australia (which together account for 90% of the world’s wool) which changed my perception of wool production completely. The welfare of sheep is a serious ethical consideration and due to the complexity of supply chains even some progressive brands fail to verify that their wool was sourced ethically and animals were treated in a humane way.

Since there are not many brands who can ensure their merino is traceable and non-mulesed I was elated to discover the ethical brand Opaline Hue which uses sustainable and ethically sourced wool.