Icebreaker Merino: Specialized Activewear Made Popular

Icebreaker Merino, simply known as Icebreaker, is one of the world's leading names in sportswear specializing in merino. Jeremy Moon was introduced to a merino sheep farmer named Brian Brackenridge in New Zealand in 1994. Brackenridge gave Moon a prototype thermal shirt made of merino wool, the material of which fascinated Moon so much that he came up with a business plan to develop a merino layering system for outdoor clothing. Merino wool was then considered a low-value material, the inexpensive costs of which proved excellent for Moon. This jump-started Icebreaker, turning it into the successful venture it is now. Icebreaker supplies to over 3,000 stores in some 30 countries worldwide.

Sir Peter Blake, a native of New Zealand, tested the first merino clothing of Icebreaker by wearing a prototype pair of leggings and top for 40 days and nights while going on to set a world record for circumnavigation. Blake's endorsement of Moon's merino garments launched the brand. Icebreaker started selling in New Zealand, quickly followed by Australia. The company's products soon gained a popular following, reaching Europe then North America.

Icebreaker believes in environment-friendly, sustainable production. Their main material, merino is an all-natural fiber taken from merino sheep in New Zealand. The merino, one of the world's oldest breeds of sheep, lives in the mountains of the country, their wool built for extreme weather conditions. Merino is breathable in hot weather but insulating in the winter while being incredibly soft and light, making it an ideal material for outdoor clothing. Merino is said to perform better than synthetic materials, being more breathable, odor-resistant and ultra-absorbent. Icebreaker now makes outerwear, underwear, mid-layer clothing, socks and accessories for men, women and children. The company is based in Wellington, New Zealand, with offices in the USA, Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Switzerland and the Czech Republic.