Synthetic Fleece vs Wool? Forget about it
Looking for the perfect jacket? Open a browser or walk into a high street shop. Scroll and scan, you know the drill. It's always the same. Polyester. And if you want something else, you risk being trapped in the infinite loop of debating the relevance of synthetic fleece against wool. Here is Mover’s elegant solution to the ongoing debate. Where you'll discover that if you ask the right questions, you can reconcile the parties and keep only the goodness.
Originally, fleece was designed to mimic the properties of wool with added benefits. It was a warm, thermoregulatory and soft alternative, but lighter. It made sense because wool garments of the time were just heavy. Synthetic fleece would also be cheaper, but at current prices of up to $250, that's just theory. Since its first appearance on the shelves, its namesake has gone from strength to strength. Some designs are so iconic that you can recognise the brand at a glance. Fleeces are for the people, adorning the torsos of rugged lumberjacks, skaters and Palo Alto techbros alike. A household name that had the winning combination. That of keeping you undeniably cool while keeping you warm. Until now.
In our age of downright disillusionment, it's not surprising that these miracle fleeces come at a price. We now know about the constant leaching of microfibres from all textiles, which are microplastics if they are synthetic. There is also growing evidence of the chemical risks associated with these microplastics. As it becomes increasingly questionable to make textiles from fossil materials, the alternative is worse. The vast majority of outdoor gear makes up for sustainability by boasting circularity through recycled synthetics. Fleece is a leading contender in this category. Outdoor clings to recycled polyester with a tenacity that would be admirable if it weren't for one tiny detail. Whether virgin or recycled, all fabrics leak into the air and water in the same way. The call is coming from inside the house. There's little point in cleaning up bottles and fishing nets from the beach. Because plastics enter the system in a new form, the problem shifts from physical pollution to a chemical hazard.
It all comes out in the wash
All in all, it's time to move on. Some say that fleece is not an end, but a process. We've simply taken a new step by building on what's already here. Gone are the days of heavy, bulky wool. With the rise of merino wool, lighter and finer fibres have become widely available. Naturally thermal and odour resistant, they are perfect for base layers. Why not use it for more? -we ask. There must be a way to create a thermal layer that doesn't weigh you down, but retains your body heat. To do that, thickness is essential. You can see the difficulty coming. How to create volume without weight? That's where brushed merino comes in. A thin knit where the outer yarn structure is deconstructed into the base fibre. If you have a hard time imagining it, think of whipped cream. Same weight, twice the volume. The magic ingredient: air. In merino fleece, the curls of the fibres trap tiny pockets of air that insulate the whole garment. It's diabolically simple.
Plastic was an option - until we realised its drawbacks, but it doesn't stop there. We can do better with less. Make a fleece that does more than imitate. First, choose fibres that nature has grown to protect its kin, including us. Then approach textile engineering with imagination to create safe fabrics. Merino Fleece is all that and more. Lighter, sharper, minimalist and more breathable than synthetics. We use it in our thermal Jackets and Vests. And for all-round goodness, in the sporty, single-sided brushed Techfleece Tracksuit. Fleece is a Movers' favourite because it fits everywhere. Throw it in your backpack, leave it on the backseat, wear it for a run, under a jacket, or while doing nothing. Merino fleece is the humble butter that elevates the flavour of bread.
