While backcountry wool wear from Voormi’s fall 2013 line is made in America, we’d also like to point out that the wool was also sourced in America. Voormi worked with Rocky Mountain Highcountry Merino exclusively to source the wool for its line of Precision Blended baselayers and midlayers.
Voormi uses two processes to make up its Precision Blended wool garments. Dual Surface technology produces a fabric that’s two-sided, yet thinner. A fine layer of performance wicking yarns is used to knit the thin inner layer, which provides wicking to pull moisture from the skin. The wool outer layer is able to regulate temperatures and moisture. The two textures also help make the garment a little more wind-resistant than a plain old knit fabric.
Surface Hardened thermal wool makes up the outer layer of the heavier garments. The fabric is a response to a need for a tougher mid-layer wool. The mid-layer garments feature a durable 21-micron water repellent outer wool layer, which is re-enforced by a specialized array of strong, high-performance fibers. Voormi makes the Surface Hardened material available in low, medium and high pile constructions.
One of the benefits Voormi says with sourcing the wool from Rocky Mountain Highcountry Merino is that it’s stronger, more resilient and allows for better thermal regulation than wool grown in mild maritime climates. That’s according to Voormi, and experts at the American Sheep Industry.
“The inherent benefit of wool sourced from the unique high elevation climate of the Rocky Mountain regaion is something that we’ve been keeping a keen eye on for some time now,” said Timm Smith, director of brand marketing for Voormi. “After overwhelming feedback on the durability of our first prototypes, and a long held belief amongst the team that wool sourced FROM our unique climate is the best suited option for use IN our unique climate, we thought it was worth doing some more digging. That’s where the ASI came in.”
“With years of experience in the nuances of fiber chemistry and access to a nationwide network of wool experts, the ASI was fundamental in helping us connect the rest of the dots. From there, it was a matter of reconfiguring our supply chain to isolate only the best, strongest fibers from our country’s most iconic mountain range.”