In fine-knit organic Merino wool, these round-necked, long-sleeved vests will keep you warm whatever you're up to. Wonderful value simple organic merino wool vests in a very pure form and machine washable.

• 100% warm and breathable organic Merino wool
• fine knit to stay close to the skin
• natural with no chemical finishing - 100% skin-friendly.

This is made from 100% organic Merino wool certified as IVN-BEST which meets and exceeds GOTS organic standards.

This fabric has undergone a mechanical, pollutant-free plasma treatment resulting in a garment that is machine washable at 30C on a wool cycle.

Merino wool is a kind of wool fibre that is very fine, soft and springy and is not itchy at all to most skins. The Merino sheep usually thrives in mountainous areas at high altitudes and its wool is naturally brilliant at keeping the body comfortable at a wide range of temperatures.

All certified organic wool comes from sheep which have been farmed organically and with high animal welfare standards. At Cambridge Baby we always make sure that no wool comes from farms which practise mulesing.

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 made from 100% organic Merino wool.

Engel's organic Merino wool is certified to GOTS organic standards by IMO. These standards are so high that even oils that lubricate knitting machines have to be analysed. With Engel, you can be assured that their dyes are baby-safe, eco-safe and that all cotton threads and finishes are natural too. All Engel's poppers are nickel-free.

Wool (and thus Merino wool) has many benefits.

• 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.
• In this way, wool is 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. This makes it a wonderful fabric for babies and the growing bodies of children as well as for athletes, cyclists, skiers and mountain-climbers. It's naturally high-tec and can't be beaten by synthetics!
• 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.
• The health benefits of wool are being revealed time and time again. For example, 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.

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

Merino wool is the wool of choice for baby and children's clothes, as well as for sportswear, because it's finer than most other wools. It's naturally springy (which makes it softer) and has a tight crimp, allowing it to trap more air, making clothing lighter as well as softer for the same excellent insulation.

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.

Everyday Care
Wool is naturally self-cleaning. For everyday use hang your wool garment clothing to air rather than wash.

How to Wash this Plasma Treated Wool Garment in the Machine
Due to the mechanical, pollutant-free plasma treatment this fabric has undergone, this garment can be machine washed on a 30C wool wash.

• Select a wool wash or hand wash cycle at 30°c with a low spin speed.
• Use a detergent designed for wool and silks. We recommend one of our liquid wool shampoos in our fabric care section here.
  
  How to Hand Wash Wool & Silk
  When handwashing, great care is needed to ensure the garment does not shrink or 'felt':
  • Dilute your wool detergent in cool water. Use a thermometer to ensure the temperature is under 30°C.
  • Add your clothing, gently stirring and squeezing the water through.
  • Rinse through using water cooler than 30°c.
  • To dry, gently squeeze water out and wrap the wool clothes in a towel to remove the excess water. Air-dry naturally avoiding direct heat.
  
  

We have the widest range of Engel clothing on the web, made from organic Merino wool, silk/wool blend and organic cotton clothing.
With clothing for the little ones including premature babies, active wear for children and great base-layers for adults - it's all there to keep everyone healthy and comfortable! And their outerwear is wonderfully soft and breathable too!

Engel was established in the 1960s. From 1982 onwards the company started to concentrate on natural textiles in an exemplary and consistent way. Engel garments are Certified Organic by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). The wool comes from Merino sheep in their natural environment, which are organically farmed and therefore live a healthy and stress-free life. The usage of pesticides is forbidden both on pastures and on animals.

Click here to read Engel's FAQs.