Sheep hair family: the main force of knitted sweaters, analysis of the three core members

2026-08-17 12:04:31

The sheep wool family is the absolute mainstream of the knitted sweater market, covering the entire price range from entry-level to mid to high end. There are multiple segmented categories based on breed and age, and the most commonly heard Merino and Sheep wool are all in this branch.

1. Basic members: Ordinary sheep wool - the cornerstone of mass sweaters

This is the most classic and widely used basic wool, and also the initial standard material for "wool sweaters".

Source: Coat of adult sheep of common breeds, with high yield and sufficient supply;

Fiber characteristics: Medium to coarse fibers, good curl, strong toughness, wear and tear resistance;

Wearing performance: Solid warmth retention, breathable and moisture absorbing, not easily deformed during normal washing and care; Some of the thick cut styles have a slight pricking sensation and are more suitable for wearing on the inside or outside;

Positioning: From entry-level to mid-range price range, with extremely high cost-effectiveness, it is the first choice for daily commuting and high-frequency wear.

2. Excellent breed: Merino wool - a benchmark for close fitting fine wool

Merino is not an independent species, but a high-quality breed of sheep known for its ultra-fine fibers, and is the "high-end branch" of the sheep wool family.

Source: Merino sheep, mainly from Australia, is the finest breed of sheep in the world;

Fiber characteristics: The fiber fineness is much lower than that of ordinary sheep wool, and some ultrafine grades are close to the fineness of cashmere; The scales are delicate and smooth, with finer curls;

Wearing performance: skin friendly and non prickly, high-quality Merino can be worn directly against the body, and can also adapt to sensitive skin; It has both warmth and breathability, as well as natural moisture absorption, sweat wicking, antibacterial, and odor prevention properties;

Positioning: In the mid-range to mid to high end price range, it is more expensive than ordinary wool but much lower than cashmere, making it a high-quality choice for "enjoying high-end experiences on a budget such as flowers".

3. Age limited edition: Sheep hair (lamb hair) - a fluffy and soft appearance style

Sheep wool, also known as lamb wool, is not a specific breed, but a category classified according to the age of wool collection, belonging to the "young style" of sheep wool.

Source: The first cut of wool from lambs under 7 months old, equivalent to the "fetal hair" of sheep;

Fiber characteristics: The fibers are finer and softer, with extremely high fluffiness and a warm and full feel;

Wearing performance: The touch is soft and smooth, and the skin pricking sensation is much lower than that of ordinary adult wool; The knitted sweater is fluffy and full in shape, with a lazy atmosphere and better warmth than ordinary wool of the same thickness;

Positioning: In the mid-range price range, slightly higher than ordinary wool, it focuses on soft and sticky texture and dressing appearance, and is a popular material for lazy style sweaters in recent years.

Additional clarification: Sheep wool (lamb wool) belongs to natural sheep wool, while the commonly known "lamb wool" on the market is mostly made of synthetic synthetic wool material, which is unrelated to animal wool. When purchasing, it is important to distinguish between them.