For as long as it’s been available, Merino wool has been used as the foundation layer of choice for alpine mountaineers and desert explorers alike. (To find out why, check out our ‘Why Merino Wool’ section). It’s been tried and tested in the most extreme environments, and despite quantum leaps in fabric technology, it remains unsurpassed.

Merino wool is not cheap. It’s a premium product that, when ethically sourced and of high quality, costs a significant amount to produce. I was looking for a merino wool top to wear through the winter but didn’t want to spend a fortune on something that worked perfectly on the Moor yet looked out of place on the school run, down the shops or in the pub. The problem was, it didn’t exist. My favourite brands either offered cotton t-shirts with graphics I loved, or technical base layers that were all about function but never seemed to combine the two.

The beauty of merino wool lies in its fibres. There’s no reason clothes made from it need to scream “base layer.” Flatlock seams, for example, were developed to prevent chafing in garments made from harsher materials. They’ve since become adopted as a byword for “technical outdoor clothing.” But merino fibres are so soft that, when a suitable micron thickness is used, there’s no fear of chafing and no need for flatlock seams. To me, they’re a dubious fashion statement, not a functional requirement. Of course, that’s personal preference, and if you disagree, you’re in luck as there are plenty of other options out there for you.

And so, to cut a long story short, after many late nights, countless samples, product testing and refining, I find myself here: the unlikely founder of a merino wool t-shirt company, creating the shirts I wanted but couldn’t find. We want you to put them on, take them outside, and put them to the test. Get them sweaty, dirty, and lost then find your way back with new stories to tell.

I hope you like them.