All about wool

Wool - a high-performance fibre for ultimate comfort and durability

Wool, a renewable and sustainable raw material, combines natural elasticity and versatility with softness and strength. Wool is not only a practical and eco-friendly choice, but also a beautiful and timeless material. Its strong fibers can withstand wear, making wool products more durable than their synthetic counterparts.

Generally, wool is the hair of sheep. However, wool can also be obtained from goats, camel-like mammals, or angora rabbits. Wool is considered the oldest fiber used by humans. Thousands of years BC, ancient Egyptians and the Chinese used domesticated sheep for wool production and processing. Initially, wool was plucked, and it wasn’t until the Iron Age, with the invention of shears, that shearing became possible.

At PERFORMANCE DAYS, wool has always played a significant role, as this extraordinarily comfortable fiber has unique characteristics: it can absorb water vapor internally while repelling water on its surface. Wool can absorb up to one-third of its dry weight in moisture without feeling damp. Additionally, it wicks away moisture far more efficiently than cotton, for example.


Material Section

Warming in winter, cooling in summer, and 100% natural and biodegradable – wool combines many positive qualities like no other fiber. At PERFORMANCE DAYS, wool has always played a significant role due to its exceptional ability to absorb water vapor inside while repelling water on its surface. Have a look at our wool fabric samples – perfect for all outdoor activities in winter…

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Global Merino GM2116-BS

Single Jersey

Baselayer

45% WO M, 55% rec. PES

GM2116-BS is a Blend of Merino Wool with Seaqual Recycled Polyester which is derived from recovered ocean plastics. In addition, the fabric is fully Bluesign certified with wool that has not been treated with chlorine.

H-OneTex Co., Ltd. HLP-1233

Airpex Fleece

Midlayer

100% rec. PES

Airpex Technical Fleece is extremely lightweight yet is durable, thermal, and highly breathable. It can be used as midlayer and insulation. Sustainability with recycled polyester and can be textile to textile recycled for circularity. Compressible for easy packing and wear, good pilling and snagging resistance.

IBQ Textiles

LOBSTER

Pants & Tights

30% WO M, 70% PA Econyl®

LOBSTER is a sustainable winter fabric, ideal for keeping warm in cold conditions. Made from Polyamide ECONYL® and Merino Wool, it combines eco-friendliness with exceptional comfort. ECONYL®, sourced partly from ocean waste like ghost nets, underscores its environmental commitment, The double-weave ripstop construction ensures high tear strength, while the Merino wool interior provides superior insulation and a soft touch on the skin, perfect for jackets and pants. With bi-stretch capabilities, LOBSTER further enhances comfort and flexibility. Also it is dyed using a water-saving process.

Imbotex Srl

YAK

Insulation & Fibres

70% rec. PES, 30% YAK

Yak fiber is commonly referred to as the coat fiber that covers those longhaired animals. Those animals live principally in the Himalayan region, the Tibetan plateau and some areas of Mongolia and Central Asia. It is the finest fiber (16-20 micron) and is generally shed by the animal during late spring/early summer period. Therefore, this fine feather-like layer needs to be harvested before it is shed in the yearly moult. Yak wool has similar properties to other animal fibers including breathability and static- resistance, but has been proven to outperform sheep wool in a number of areas.

Freudenberg Performance Materials Apparel GmbH & Co. KG HO 236

HO 23X cloud

Insulation & Fibres

35% PES, 65% rec. PES

The airlaid technology creates a cloud-like wadding structure, providing absolutely unique performance characteristics, such as: • Optimum thermal insulation at lowest unit weight with a very fluffy hand feel • 20 – 25% higher volume retention compared to standard waddings, also after washing • Excellent resilience allowing fast recovery after vacuumed un-packing • High content of recycled polyester


The new Wool Forum at PERFORMANCE DAYS: Interview with Woolmark, Feinjersey and Utenos

 

As part of the upcoming Spring Fair taking place on March 5-6, 2025, in Munich, the Wool Area, introduced last fall, will be further expanded. Visitors will find a concentrated collection of wool manufacturers prominently located in Hall C4, along the central boulevard. Exhibitors include renowned names such as Woolmark, Feinjersey, Utenos, Global Merino, Impetus Group, Imbotex, and many more!

For the first time, there also will be a dedicated Wool Forum at PERFORMANCE DAYS. During the jury meeting held in advance of the fair, the PERFORMANCE DAYS experts panel took a critical look at new developments and innovations in the wool sector.

In the lead-up to the upcoming spring fair in March, several exhibitors from the Wool Area share their insights. The focus is on: the key trends in the field of wool, the current and future importance of focusing on this natural fiber for the performance sector, and the expectations exhibitors have for the new Wool Area.

Read the whole interview here!


Astrid Schlüchter

About the Author

Astrid Schlüchter

PERFORMANCE DAYS

Starting February 2024, Astrid Schlüchter is taking on the role of Senior Communication Manager at PERFORMANCE DAYS. To drive further growth with innovative communication strategies, PERFORMANCE DAYS is bringing Astrid Schlüchter on board not only as a seasoned industry expert but also as a renowned specialist journalist. Before joining PERFORMANCE DAYS, the trained fashion designer led the editorial team of the print and online medium SAZsport as Editor-in-Chief and was instrumental in the development of the Sports Retail Congress. Prior to that, Schlüchter worked for a long time as a freelance writer for various media in the sports, fashion, and lifestyle segments.

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Exhibitor List March 2025