Holes in Merino Undershirts – Causes and Solutions

Holes in your merino undershirt?

If holes appear in a merino undershirt, there is usually an identifiable reason.

1. Did the holes appear after you had worn the garment for some time? Clothes moths may be the cause.

Clothes moths

Clothes moths are often associated with old or untidy wardrobes. In reality, however, they can also occur in very clean and modern homes – particularly where animal-based natural fibres such as merino wool are stored.

The adult moths themselves do not damage wool textiles. The damage is caused by their larvae, which feed on animal fibres such as wool. Even a small number of eggs can therefore result in small holes appearing in a garment over time.

Typical moth damage can often be recognised by irregular holes with slightly frayed edges. Unlike holes that occur mainly around the underarms – for example due to a combination of perspiration, deodorant and friction – or around the waistband due to mechanical wear, moth holes tend to appear in different places across the undershirt without an obvious pattern.

If holes appear in a merino undershirt after some time and causes such as friction around the waistband, stress in the underarm area or mechanical damage during washing from zips, buttons, hook-and-loop fasteners or rivets can be ruled out, it is worth checking for a possible clothes moth infestation.

You can find tips on identifying and dealing with clothes moths here, for example: Identifying and controlling clothes moths

Typical holes caused by clothes moth larvae:

2. Did the holes appear shortly after purchase or after the first wash or wear? Weakened fibres may be the cause.

Weakened fibres

With merino wool, the possibilities for technical quality control are naturally more limited than with synthetic fibres. Synthetic fibres are continuous filaments with a very uniform surface and can therefore be inspected comparatively accurately before processing.

Wool, on the other hand, consists of many individual short natural fibres. These gain their strength when they are spun together into yarn. It is therefore technically impossible to inspect every individual merino fibre completely before processing.

We select wool from manufacturers who place particular emphasis on the quality of the raw material. Nevertheless, natural fibres are subject to natural variations. Despite careful quality control, in rare cases individual weakened fibres may be processed. These weak points are often not visible in the finished garment and may only become apparent during the first wear or wash in the form of small tears or holes.

If such holes appear shortly after purchase and obvious mechanical damage can be ruled out, weakened fibres may be the cause. Please contact us in this case – we will review the issue and, of course, find an appropriate solution.

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