Holes in your merino wool undershirt?
If holes appear in a merino wool undershirt, there is usually a simple explanation.
1. Holes appear after a longer period of use?
In this case, clothing moths are the most likely cause.
Clothing moths
It is often assumed that moths only occur in old or poorly maintained wardrobes. In reality, they are now found even in modern and clean households.
They are particularly attracted to one specific “treat”: merino wool.
Fine merino wool is an ideal food source for moths. A single moth is enough – it can enter a wardrobe or land on drying laundry and start feeding on the fabric.
Holes caused by moths are usually irregular and have slightly frayed edges. Unlike holes that occur only under the arms (sweat + deodorant interaction) or around the waist (friction), moth damage appears randomly across the garment.
If holes develop over time and cannot be explained by friction, deodorant or washing (zippers, buttons, Velcro, rivets), moths are a likely cause.
Tips on how to deal with moths:
Guide to fighting clothing moths
Typical moth damage:
2. Holes appear shortly after purchase or after the first wash?
Weakened fibres may be the cause.
Weakened fibres
Quality control for merino wool is technically more limited than for synthetic fibres.
Synthetic fibres are continuous and have a very smooth surface. They can be checked for consistency and quality before being processed.
Wool, on the other hand, consists of many short individual fibres. Its strength comes from the spinning process, where these fibres are twisted together. This means that not every single fibre can be individually checked before production.
Quality control mainly takes place during raw material selection. We choose suppliers who guarantee high-quality wool. However, as with any natural product, variations can occur.
Despite strict quality checks, it is possible that already weakened fibres are incorporated into the yarn. These areas are invisible in the finished product but may become visible after the first wash or wear as small holes or tears.
If holes appear shortly after purchase and no mechanical cause can be identified, weakened fibres are the most likely explanation.
In this case, please contact us:
