Smartwool

Last updated
Smartwool
Company type Subsidiary
IndustryClothing
Founded1994;30 years ago (1994)
FoundersPeter Duke, Patty Duke
Headquarters Steamboat Springs, Colorado, U.S.
Area served
Worldwide
Products Wool clothing
Parent VF Corporation
Website www.smartwool.com

Smartwool is an American clothing company. It was founded in 1994 in Steamboat Springs, Colorado by ski instructors Peter and Patty Duke. In 2005 The Timberland Company acquired Smartwool and in 2011 Smartwool became a subsidiary of VF Corporation upon VF Corporation's acquisition of The Timberland Company. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Overview

The company makes eponymous products primarily from treated merino wool. [5] Smartwool claims that this is a proprietary chlorine-based* treatment that makes its products itch-free and resistant to shrinking. Smartwool is also claimed to have moisture-wicking performance and odor-reducing, anti-microbial properties; it is thus marketed primarily as performance apparel. [5] Reviews for Smartwool products are typically found in the context of equipment for hiking and other outdoor activities. [6] [7] They offer products for women, men, and kids. [8]

Hercosett is a *chlorine-based shrink proofing treatment invented in the 1950s by the Wool Board in the UK to make wool more commercial.

In 2005, Smartwool implemented the requirement that its New Zealand wool suppliers no longer practice mulesing. [9] In 2010, Smartwool signed a contract to exclusively source its Merino wool from the New Zealand Merino Company. [10] Smartwool now uses merino wool sourced from China and other as yet undisclosed sources. It also has moved to blended yarns.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wool</span> Textile fiber from the hair of sheep or other mammals

Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and other mammals, especially goats, rabbits, and camelids. The term may also refer to inorganic materials, such as mineral wool and glass wool, that have some properties similar to animal wool.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merino</span> Breed of sheep

The Merino is a breed or group of breeds of domestic sheep, characterised by very fine soft wool. It was established in Spain near the end of the Middle Ages, and was for several centuries kept as a strict Spanish monopoly; exports of the breed were not allowed, and those who tried risked capital punishment. During the eighteenth century, flocks were sent to the courts of a number of European countries, including France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Prussia, Saxony and Sweden.

Mulesing is the removal of strips of wool-bearing skin from around the breech (buttocks) of a sheep to prevent the parasitic infection flystrike (myiasis). The wool around the buttocks can retain feces and urine, which attracts flies. The scar tissue that grows over the wound does not grow wool, so is less likely to attract the flies that cause flystrike. Mulesing is a common practice in Australia for this purpose, particularly on highly wrinkled Merino sheep. Mulesing is considered by some to be a skilled surgical task. Mulesing can only affect flystrike on the area cut out and has no effect on flystrike on any other part of the animal's body.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timberland (company)</span> American clothing and footwear company

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Karrimor is a British brand of backpacks, outdoor and sports equipment, and clothing.

Icebreaker is a merino wool outdoor and natural performance outdoor clothing brand headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand. It was purchased by VF Corporation, a NYSE listed entity in 2018. Icebreaker was conceived and designed around the philosophy of sustainability, using natural fibres, environmental and social ethics, and animal welfare. The company began by specialising in the creation of merino base layers and now offers underwear, mid layers, outer wear, socks and accessories based on natural fibres.

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Ibex Outdoor Clothing, LLC is a producer of wool clothing designed for outdoor use sold through a website and retailers. For the year 2001 Ibex made US$1.5 million in sales, and by 2012 had reached US$12 million in sales. Between 2014 and 2017 sales averaged US$20 Million.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Domestication of the sheep</span>

The history of the domestic sheep goes back to between 11,000 and 9,000 BC, and the domestication of the wild mouflon in ancient Mesopotamia. Sheep are among the first animals to have been domesticated by humans. These sheep were primarily raised for meat, milk, and skins. Woolly sheep began to be developed around 6000 BC. They were then imported to Africa and Europe via trading.

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Altra Running, commonly known as Altra, is an American manufacturing company engaged in the design, development, marketing, and sales of athletic shoes for road running, trail running, and general footwear. Since 2018 Altra is owned by VF Corporation, an American global apparel and footwear company with other brands like Icebreaker, The North Face, Vans, JanSport, Eastpak and Timberland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eagle Creek (company)</span>

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Patrik Frisk is a Swedish/American businessman in the apparel industry. From 2020 to 2022, he was the president and CEO of Under Armour, when he succeeded the company's founder, Kevin Plank. He was previously president and chief operating officer of the company since 2017. Frisk has worked for 30 years in retail and has had senior positions at The North Face and Timberland, before joining the ALDO Group in 2014 as CEO.

Kraemer Textiles Inc. is a privately held American yarn manufacturing company founded in 1887, based in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. It produces its own handicraft yarns under the Kraemer Yarns brand, and spins natural and manmade fibers for carpets, industrial use, and home furnishings. It was one of the companies partnered with the Ralph Lauren Corporation to produce the distinctive outerwear for the 2014 Winter Olympics team representing the United States.

References

  1. Kelly Bastone, 2005: Going global, Steamboat Springs on the Move: Official Business and Relocation Guide for the Yampa Valley, 2005. Retrieved April 26, 2007
  2. Paul McHugh, Once mighty wool makes comeback in outdoor gear, San Francisco Chronicle, November 23, 2006. Retrieved April 26, 2007.
  3. SEC Info, Timberland Press Release, November 7, 2005. Retrieved April 26, 2007.
  4. "VF Completes Acquisition of The Timberland Company". VF Corporation. Retrieved 2018-01-04.
  5. 1 2 Unknown author, Efficient Merino Wool Clothing by SmartWool, Metaefficient, unknown date. Retrieved April 26, 2007.
  6. Dave Hunter, Smartwool Base Layers: Men's Lightweight Crew and Lightweight Bottoms, Rock + Run, October 26, 2004. Retrieved April 26, 2007.
  7. Kristin Hostetter, SmartWool Next-to-SkinWear: Smooth-as-Silk Wool Long Johns., Backpacker.com, April, 1999. Retrieved April 26, 2007.
  8. "Smartwool® | Socks, Clothing & Accessories". Smartwool USA - English. Retrieved 2016-11-02.
  9. Justin Thomas, Smartwool requires wool suppliers to end "mulesing", treehugger.com, October 8, 2005. Retrieved April 26, 2007.
  10. "New Zealand given smart wool nod - National Rural News - Wool - General - the Land". Archived from the original on 2011-08-30. Retrieved 2011-01-20.