A simple but functional women's vest in organic wool and silk. Ideal for a healthy extra layer of warmth against the skin on cold days.

• 70% organic wool, 30% silk

This is made from a blend of 70% organic Merino wool and 30% pure silk. This blend combines the thermo-regulating properties of a soft, fine wool with the silkiness of pure silk on the skin.

The organic Merino wool used in this garment is certified to GOTS organic standards. These are very high standards which control the organic status of the grass and food that the sheep eat, as well as all aspects of the processing of the wool, and also sets high standards for animal husbandry. In this fabric, Merino wool is combined with pure silk.

The Merino sheep usually thrive in mountainous areas at high altitudes resulting in wool which has many benefits when worn next to the skin and about the body.

• Wool absorbs moisture into the centre of the fibre, so that it still feels dry on the outside. This is very healthy for your skin - your skin stays dry while the wool can absorb up to 33% of its own weight while feeling dry.
• Wool "breathes", releasing its moisture out into the atmosphere. It does this dynamically in response to the environment, so if you or your child is active and sweating more, wool works harder for you. Wonderful.
• Wool is also naturally anti-bacterial, dirt-resistant and very stretchy, making wonderful clothes that are easy to put on and take off, excellent for dressing babies and children.
• Merino wool has also been proven to absorb UV across the whole range of the spectrum, giving excellent lightweight sun protection in the summer too.

Wool is therefore a wonderful temperature-regulator, slowing down the effects of changes of temperature and helping prevent sweatiness by absorbing moisture and releasing it in response to the environment.

Find out more about the properties of wool here in our blog here.

The health benefits of wool are being revealed time and time again. Studies have shown that it's better for the health of premature babies if they are nursed on wool rather than cotton and it's better for the skin of hospital patients if they lie on wool rather than polyester.

Wool helps sleep too. At least two studies show that people get a better night's sleep with wool around them - people go to sleep more quickly, sleep longer and have better quality sleep too.

Please note that under EU labelling regulations, stating the type of wool is not allowed, only a statement of "100% wool" or "new wool" is allowed. However, this garment is certified organic Merino wool.

For centuries, silk has been known as the premier fabric to wear next to the skin. It is very smooth, so it's non-irritating, and it has good insulation properties giving it good warmth for its lightness. It is also naturally antibacterial and healthy for the skin.

Combining the Merino wool and silk gives the thermo-regulating properties of soft, fine wool with the silkiness of pure silk on the skin.

Wool is naturally self-cleaning, the outer surfaces of the fibre pushing dirt down and off itself. It's naturally anti-bacterial and neutralises odours too. Silk also releases dirt easily, so after wearing, the best thing to do is to hang your silk/wool clothing to air rather than wash.

This wool/silk fabric is a soft, natural fabric so care must be taken when washing. We recommend hand washing as follows.

Use a detergent designed for wool and silks which is gentle, and which protects and repenishes wool's natural oils. We recommend one of our liquid wool shampoos in our fabric care section here.

To hand-wash your wool silk fabric, dilute your wool detergent in cool water, max 30C (luke-warm only, should feel coolish), in a bowl. For heavily-soiled areas, use a little gall soap beforehand, testing on an inconspicuous area first.

Add your wool/silk clothing to the bowl, gently stirring and squeezing the detergent through. Rinse using water at the same temperature, otherwise the wool will be subjected to "shock" and might felt up. So luke-warm/coolish at 30C again.

Things not to do! Don't wring, soak, brush or rub vigourously as the wool and silk fibres may be damaged and your garment felt up a little and shrink. Just squeeze the water through.

To dry, gently squeeze water out and wrap your wool clothes in a towel to remove the excess water. Air-dry naturally avoiding direct heat. So, hanging on a drying rack over the bath is good, or on a clothes horse. Mine often end up over the back of chairs or on the washing line in the shade (I haven't had a problem with the the heat of the English being too hot, yet, but direct sunlight is not good for wool or silk).

Re-shape while still damp.

HOCOSA of Switzerland are faithful to the styles of its parent company founded 133 years ago, along with their sister company SAWACO. They are members of IVN-Germany (International Association Natural Textile Industry) who stand for ecological and socially responsible production.

With a focus on ecological materials such as organic wool, organic wool/silk, organic-cotton/silk, pure silk and cashmere/silk, Hocosa manufactures a wide range of everyday basics for all ages.

All HACOSA's products are manufactured in Ligornetto (Switzerland) according to the strictest environmental requirements and are therefore sold as “Swiss Made”.