Spotlight | Merino by ashmei
Performance Merino T-shirts for running and runners. Staple wear whether you’re training, racing, or taking the day off.
Equal parts canon and casual, some form of T-shirt is default attire for runners and athletes of every stripe. Yet, although we all probably have a favourite, unless you’ve previously pulled on a Merino T-shirt, you’ll have no idea of the comfort and performance that can be wrung from this workaday staple. While cotton or polyester represent cheaper and more common choices, neither benefits from the millennia of evolution that have shaped Merino wool. Making it into by far the best material with which to clothe active bodies, it’s why each of our Signature, Trail, Icon, and Classic Merino running T-shirts employ an incredibly soft and efficient wool fabric.
"IT IS ALMOST CERTAIN TO BECOME AN ITEM THAT YOU RETURN TO AGAIN AND AGAIN, WHETHER FOR SPORTS, FOR TRAVEL AND JUST FOR LOUNGING AROUND THE HOUSE."
"SO, THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT ASHMEI'S TECHNICAL T-SHIRT IS VERY GOOD INDEED, AND VERSATILE TOO. YOU CAN USE IT AS A RELAXED BASELAYER, SPORTS TEE OR AS A STYLISH LIFESTYLE T-SHIRT, AND IT WORKS BRILLIANTLY AS ALL THREE"
Why Merino?
Shaped by every rain cloud or sunny spell that’s ever cast itself over a Merino-breed sheep, the fibres of their exceptionally fine wool have evolved to provide insulation and breathability across an incredible range of conditions. Warm on cold grey mornings, cool when pushed hard on a high summer afternoon, Merino wool is also able to retain its incredible thermoregulating qualities when wet. For runners and other active types, this means it manages both downpours and sweat with equal aplomb, while the structure of its fibres allow it to swallow odour causing bacteria so it stays fresh for a seemingly infinite number of wears.
Allowing the same T-shirt to be thrown on again each time you run, this is good news for both the state of your laundry basket and for the planet. Lowering the energy cost over the lifespan of the garment, unlike synthetic materials Merino is also biodegradable meaning it helps keep microplastics out for the environment.
Working seven days a week
Of course, while Merino offers incredible benefits for runners and other athletes, it’s equally suited to lounging around in and an exceptionally good choice for wear when travelling. Sustainable to produce, we’ve pushed its natural properties further with our Merino + Carbon fabric. This development sees super-absorbent silica permanently embedded into the material, allowing it to convert liquid to vapour up to ten times faster than conventional alternatives. From the slouchy to the fitted, it’s a benefit found across our extensive line of men’s and women’s Merino T-shirts.
