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.
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.
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.
"Love this base layer. Sized up for my 18 month old (who is big anyway) and it's lovely and long in the body. Really comfy and stretchy and a perfect top for him to charge around in. Will definately repurchase next size when needed and maybe another as a spare when in the wash. Great price too."
This was washed... not needed washing yet
This was worn by... Mega active 18 month old
Sizing: A little generous
I'd recommend this to a friend.
"These shirts are awesome. Keeps the kid warm! Vompared to other wool shirts the Cosilana shirt is longer which is perfect for very active kids!"
This was washed... washed fine
This was worn by... 7 year old
Sizing: Feels true to size
"This is just what I wanted. Perfect for my son's forest school- wears as an extra layer in winter or on it's own in summer. Looks good and feels lovely and soft."
This was worn by... my four year old
"Lovely top that's keeping my little boy warm at home (where he will often only wear one layer!), and at Forest School. He's very sensitive to how clothes feel and has found some wool clothing too itchy but this is beautifully soft and he wears it fine."
This was washed... Washed fine in my machine at 30 degrees inside a cotton wash bag
"I love these tops and so do my children. They are soft, snug, naturally stretchy, and therefore very easy to put on and eg roll up sleeves on little ones. The tops don't need to be washed often so really each one is the equivalent of 2/3 tops."
This was worn by... 3 of my kinderen.
Sizing: A little small
"Very soft and comfortable to wear on the skin as a base layer! The body is of rather slim cut which fits our daughter well. It’s long enough to cover belly and nappies upper end to keep the wind out! Great to have on the really cold days but also the tricky spring days where the temperatures go up and down a lot. This really just gives an extra layer without making her sweat."
This was worn by... 2.5 year old girl
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