RWS wool and merino: what the Responsible Wool Standard means

Wool keeps you warm, breathes and rarely needs washing. But when you buy it, it's often unclear how the sheep were kept. This is exactly where the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) comes in. Here you'll find out what the label covers, how lambswool and merino differ and how to care for wool knitwear.

What the Responsible Wool Standard covers

The RWS was developed by the non-profit organisation Textile Exchange. It is voluntary and audited by independent certification bodies. The standard has two parts:

On the farm

• Animal welfare: requirements for feeding, water, shelter, health care and how the animals are handled during shearing.
• Mulesing ban: mulesing is a painful procedure in which skin folds are removed from the hindquarters of merino sheep to prevent flystrike. It is not allowed under the RWS.
• Grazing land: requirements for how soil, plants and habitats on the pastures are managed.

In the supply chain

Every step from the farm through scouring and spinning to garment making must be certified. This makes it possible to trace that the wool in the product really comes from RWS farms. With the "RWS 100" label, the wool content consists entirely of RWS wool; "RWS Blended" marks blends with other fibres.

Important: the RWS only applies to the wool. Other fibres in a blend need their own proof.

Lambswool and merino: the difference

Lambswool comes from the first shearing of young sheep. The fibres are particularly fine and soft, which makes it well suited to knitwear worn directly on the skin.

Merino wool comes from the merino sheep, a breed with a very fine, highly crimped fleece. Merino feels soft and is less itchy than coarser types of wool.

Both share the typical properties of wool:

• Warmth: the crimped fibres trap air and so retain body heat.
• Moisture: wool can absorb moisture without feeling wet straight away.
• Less washing: odours often disappear simply by airing.

Wool in blends

Many of our knitted pieces combine wool with other fibres. This makes them lighter, more comfortable on the skin and often easier to care for. A few examples:

• The organic cotton blend roll neck jumper and the long open cardigan are made from 36 % organic cotton, 33 % RWS lambswool and 31 % LENZING™ ECOVERO™ viscose.
• The lambswool-blend coat combines 60 % RWS lambswool with 40 % recycled polyester.
• The unisex knitted beanie in organic merino wool and organic cotton is made of 55 % organic merino wool and 45 % organic cotton. The merino wool in our products is certified to the Responsible Wool Standard.

The certificate that applies to an item is shown on the product page in the "Production" tab. For an overview of all standards, see our Certificates page and the article GOTS, OCS, GRS, RWS: the certificates on our labels explained.

How to care for wool knitwear

1. Air instead of washing: after wearing, hang your jumper in the fresh air overnight. That's often enough.
2. Wash gently: when necessary, wash on the wool or hand-wash cycle at a low temperature with wool detergent. Check the care label.
3. Don't rub or wring: gently press the water out, ideally rolled in a towel.
4. Dry flat: lay knitwear flat on a towel and pull it into shape. On a hanger it can stretch.
5. Remove pilling: small bobbles where fabric rubs are normal. A fabric comb removes them gently.

You'll find more tips in our care instructions. We show how to style knitwear in winter in Warm through the winter.

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