Warmth in equestrian sports - consistently warm from the inside out, with natural merino wool from Woolpower

A LITTLE BOOK ON THE TOPIC OF WARMTH FROM THE INSIDE OUT, from Woolpower

When we make clothing, we look at every single step from a long-term perspective. We want to avoid any waste and therefore make garments that are characterized by timelessness, functionality and top quality. A long-term mindset promotes sustainability. At Woolpower, everything revolves around sustainability – before, during and after the production of each individual item of clothing. We make warm undergarments and socks from Merino wool, from the yarn to the finished product. When you wear our products, you can be sure that our production is characterized by a strong sense of responsibility for our environment and the jobs of everyone who works for Woolpower. We have decided to keep all production in Östersund, thereby reducing the number of links in the supply chain. Our employees have a strong value orientation and are passionate about their work. The seamstresses give the item they sew an individual seal of quality by sewing their personal name tag into the item. This fills them with pride and a shared sense of responsibility.

ALL-AROUND RESPONSIBILITY

Woolpower is the best proof that a textile company can pay fair wages and guarantee employment relationships and workplace conditions that people can live with. Since our company was founded in 1969, all of our garments have been made here in Östersund. And that's exactly how we want it to be. The satisfaction of our employees guarantees us the certainty that we produce high-quality products.

CIRCULAR KNITTING Every year, our business partner in Germany delivers 200 t of merino wool in the form of balls of yarn to our factory in Östersund. The first step is knitting. Sleeves, legs and tops are knitted in the round to ensure there are as few seams as possible.

OUR EXPERIENCED SEEMERS

At Woolpower, every seamstress sews an entire garment from the first to the last seam. This ensures more variety in the work and offers the seamstresses the opportunity to expand their skills. When they have finished their sewing and have inspected and approved their products, they sew their name into the garment. This name tag is a seal of quality - from the seamstress and from Woolpower. SUSTAINABILITY The fact that we have our factory in Östersund means that we can better assert our environmental impact. In recent years we have taken another important step towards achieving our sustainability goals in production. We use excess material from production to make new products. Woolpower is certified according to the ISO international environmental management standard. The Ullfrotté Original knitted fabric is ÖKOTEK certified, and this international certificate guarantees that the garment does not contain any toxins.

A WARMING COMPANY

You could also put it this way: For us, working with heat basically has a double meaning. We produce high-quality, warm wool products with optimal functionality. And we take care of our employees and partners, the wildlife and our environment, thereby spreading social warmth. SE-09-183 Swerea IVF 5 " NAME: Ann-Mari Lund PROFESSION: Seamstress I have been working at Woolpower for almost 40 years and in this time I have learned a lot about knitted fabrics and developed professionally. I am proud to be part of the Woolpower team “My long service with the company alone speaks for that!”

OUR BODY AND TEMPERATURES

In order to function at all, our body needs energy in the form of food and drink, so that the heart can beat, the muscles work and the brain functions. Most of the energy, and we're talking about 70%, is needed to maintain the correct body temperature.

BODY HEAT

Body heat is created by burning the food we eat – fats, carbohydrates and proteins. The heat is mainly generated in the muscle tissue because the muscles are working. When we are in the cold, our body has to ensure a balanced heat balance. We therefore need to provide it with additional energy in the form of appropriate food and clothing so that we don't start to freeze.

WHEN THE BODY GETS COLD

When our body gets cold, it tries to generate heat through shivering, i.e. involuntary muscle contractions. The body can increase its own heat production 4 to 5 times just by shivering. When we are cold, the blood flow to the hands and feet decreases so that the vital organs are primarily supplied with heat. Therefore, we initially get cold hands and feet, while the rest of the body continues to feel warm.

UP TO 1 LITER OF SWEAT PER DAY

Sweating is a completely normal reaction when the body gets too warm and the skin needs to cool down. Our skin cools down by evaporating sweat. This works great in warm climates. But in the cold, when you're heavily dressed, uncontrolled sweating can have fatal consequences as the moisture cools the body. 0.5 to 1 liter of moisture evaporates from the skin every day. During strenuous activities, this amount can amount to several liters per hour. 7 Woolpower clothing keeps you warm, even when it gets damp. And it doesn't smell unpleasant, even when you've sweated.

KEEP WARM WITH CLOTHING

Clothing ensures that the heat your body generates is retained. That's why you should always think about how you dress. Small details can make a big difference when it's bitterly cold and energy reserves are running low. With the right clothing, the body can retain heat more easily while wicking away moisture and excess heat.

HOW DO I DRESS PROPERLY IN THE COLD?

When it's cold, the onion principle applies, i.e. layer on layer. It offers the simplest, most versatile protection from cold, wind and moisture. At the same time, you can take off one piece of clothing after another more easily, body moisture and heat are effectively dissipated.

THE WOOLPOWER SYSTEM

The Woolpower product range forms a clothing system within which you can combine the different items of clothing as you wish, depending on what you have in mind. You can wear a thicker layer directly on the skin, or you can double the bottom layer of clothing. The most important thing is that you have Woolpower on your skin so that the body heat generated is insulated. 9 If you wear a cotton item under your Woolpower underwear, the thermal protection will be ineffective and you will start to freeze.

WOOL DIRECTLY ON THE BODY

Your skin needs to be covered by a heat-insulating, moisture-wicking layer. It is essential that the body's moisture is transported away from the skin, as water has 25 times higher thermal conductivity than air.

THE LAYER SYSTEM FROM WOOLPOWER

The more air there is in the clothing, the better insulating it is. Woolpower has developed a complete range of garments for the whole body. The parts can be combined in different ways depending on temperature and activity. The Ullfrotté Original knitted fabric is available in different weights and for different functions and performance. Commercial strength is measured in grams per square meter and is available in 200, 400, 600 and 800 g/m2. Woolpower LITE is a thinner knit that is suitable as both a warming layer and a cooling alternative in high temperatures.

UNDERWEAR ULLFROTTÉ ORIGINAL 200 g

Ullfrotté Original 200 g is a warmer knit in which the terry loops trap a lot of air. You can wear it directly on your skin or as a second layer. It has the same functionality as Woolpower LITE, but is more suitable for colder weather. UNDERCLOTHING LITE Woolpower LITE has all the properties to keep you warm or cold depending on the situation and weather conditions. LITE works great as a base layer under our thicker layers, but can also be worn on its own in warmer weather.

MID LAYER ULLFROTTÉ ORIGINAL 400–600 g

An intermediate layer of clothing provides additional insulation and retains body heat. When it's cold or your activity level isn't that high, you need a thicker layer. The more air there is in the clothing, the better insulating it is. Woolpower's generously cut mid-layer garments are made from Ullfrotté Original, 400-600 g . Temperature and activity level determine the strength of the intermediate layer. The wind- and water-repellent outer material protects against the cold outside and retains the heat stored between the layers. Modern shell clothing is easily permeable to moisture. During strenuous activities, clothing should have ventilation in the neck area, cuffs or other openings. An additional layer can be added during breaks or when setting up camp and you are less active. Windproof clothing made of down or synthetic fibers can be easily put on and taken off using the shell garment.

HOW TO KEEP YOUR FEET WARM

We all know exactly what cold feet feel like. We hop around, desperately wiggling our toes or tapping our feet together. But none of that helps. Here are 12 tips to keep your feet – your shock absorbers for life – comfortably warm and dry.

1. HEADGEAR ON!

If you want to keep your feet warm, then you have to consider your whole body. When your body gets cold, its priority is to provide heat to the heart, brain and other vital organs. Therefore, it reduces blood circulation in the hands and feet. So we usually get cold hands and feet first, while the rest of the body continues to feel warm. A head without a hat is a pure chimney through which a large part of the body heat escapes.

2. WOOL TRANSPORTED

Cold feet are often linked to poor ventilation. If the moisture level on the skin is too high, wool effectively absorbs sweat and wicks it away through the knit until the moisture level is back in balance. Socks with too much cotton content prevent sweat from evaporating, which is why your feet become damp and cold.

3. STAY DRY

The most important way to keep your feet warm is to keep your feet dry. At low activity levels, a foot secretes around 3 ml of moisture per hour. At high activity it is 15-30 ml. 13

4. REST FEET

Take off your shoes when you take a break. Then the moisture in the shoe can evaporate. It's also good to relax the soles of your feet after you've walked a lot during the day. Also remember to stay warm with food and drink.

5. DRY YOUR SOCKS

Use your body heat to warm and dry damp socks. Clip them somewhere in your pants when you walk around; Your body heat will do the rest. Another tip: put wet socks over a warm hot water bottle. Perfect for warming up your sleeping bag in the evening!

6. OFF THE GROUND

A cold surface can absorb much of the foot's heat. It is therefore very important to get your feet as far away from a cold floor as possible. If possible, wear insulating insoles in your shoes, preferably felt insoles from Woolpower. Stand on a seat cushion, a piece of Styrofoam, or a few branches so that the heat is not absorbed by the cold surface.

7. FOOT CARE

It is important that you take care of your feet. Clean, dry feet promote blood circulation and cope better with cold. Plus, you won't get blisters. Do not use water-based creams on your feet as the water in such creams can freeze at low temperatures and cause chilblains. Wool stores moisture highly effectively in its fibers and can absorb up to 30% of its own weight in moisture without feeling damp. When wool is wet, it also releases some heat. 14

8. LOTS OF SPACE

If the blood circulation in the feet is hindered, they quickly begin to freeze. Make sure your shoes are big enough and don't lace them too tightly. This can affect blood circulation in your feet and make them cold more quickly. You need so much space that you can wiggle your toes.

9. TWO PAIRS OF SOCKS

The layering principle also works on your feet, hands and head. Put on thinner, well-fitting socks first, then a thicker pair on top that can absorb moisture from the foot and trap as much air as possible. This also prevents blisters on your feet, as the friction occurs between the socks and not in contact with the skin.

10. CHANGE SOCKS

Put on different socks before going out into the cold. They are then not as warm and moist from the heat inside the house. Change your socks several times a day, preferably alternating between two pairs.

11. FOOD AND DRINK

The body needs energy to keep the heat balance in balance. So don't forget to eat and drink! To stay warm, you don't necessarily need a warm drink, but rather energy-rich food and drinks.

12. Wiggle your toes

Moving your toes and feet at the same time promotes blood circulation, increases body temperature and reduces the risk of chilblains. 15 Of course, there is leftover material when making our Woolpower products. But, as the saying goes: save in time and you'll have it in times of need. We turn the surplus into award-winning insoles. The color of these soles may vary from pair to pair depending on the colors of the fabric scraps. 16 We have been processing merino wool for over 40 years.

WOOL – NATURE’S FUNCTIONAL MATERIAL SELF-CLEANING EFFECT

The keratin contained in wool naturally breaks down the bacteria on the skin that cause unpleasant odors. At the core of the wool fibers are two types of cells that absorb different amounts of moisture. This causes constant movement friction between cell types, resulting in a mechanical self-cleaning process. OPTIMAL INSULATION The crimped structure of the wool fibers binds large amounts of air and ensures excellent insulation. The air between the fibers reduces heat transfer in the knitted fabric and has a heat and cold insulating effect. Merino wool, with its up to 40 crimps per centimeter, is highly insulating and also has a limited number of points of contact between the knit and the skin. MACHINE WASHABLE The surface of the wool fibers is water-repellent, which limits bacterial growth and the resulting odor formation. Wool clothing does not need to be washed as often. It is best ventilated in damp weather. The surface of the wool fibers is full of small scales, which can cause lint to form when washing such garments. The scales can be removed with special treatment to make the wool washable. Woolpower clothing is washable up to 60 degrees and does not shrink. Please see the washing instructions for more details. 18 As moisture is transported to the outside of the garment, thermal insulation increases and you stay dry.

DAMP – AND STILL WARM

When moisture is absorbed, chemical heat is generated, the so-called absorption heat. Thermal energy is created when the polarized water and wool fiber molecules collide with each other. This collision is so powerful that it generates heat. The process continues until the fibers are saturated with water molecules. This means our underwear provides warmth even when it is damp.

WATER-REPELLENT AND SWELLABLE

Wool fibers have a hydrophobic (water-repellent) exterior and a hydrophilic (water-absorbing) interior. As a result, wool has unique moisture management properties. Wool fibers can absorb up to 30% of their own weight in moisture without feeling damp.

WHEN WOOL SCRATCHES

The micron number, ie the thickness of the wool fiber in thousandths of a millimeter, is considered a quality criterion. Fine wool is between 17 and 23 microns. If wool is perceived as scratchy, it is due to the coarse fibers that do not lie smoothly against the skin but stick out. The finer the wool fibers, the softer they feel. Coarse fibers larger than 28 microns can feel scratchy. Woolpower underwear has a low micron count and therefore feels cozy and soft.

GET AWAY WITH THE MOISTURE

When the moisture level on the inside of the clothing is higher than on the outside, the wool actively absorbs the moisture and transports it through the knit until equilibrium is achieved.

ULLFROTTÉ ORIGINAL – THE Knitted fabric

To date, it has not been possible to produce a synthetic fiber with the unique properties of wool. Mother Nature had the solution to freezing and sweating long before humans thought about it. At the beginning of the 1970s in Östersund, in the Swedish province of Jämtland, we developed a knitted fabric called Ullfrotté Original - a durable material made from a mix of fine merino wool, polyamide/polyester and above all - air! 80 PERCENT AIR Air? Now it's actually not the air that causes the heat loss. Fabric, on the other hand, can do that. Our fabric is a terry cloth fabric with a flat knit on the outside and terry loops on the inside. The fluffy terry loops in combination with the crimped wool fibers form a knit with high air absorption capacity. Therefore, up to 80% of the knitted fabric consists of air. This airy material has very limited contact with the body, so there are fewer places for body heat to escape. By wearing Woolpower underwear directly on your skin, you can store your body heat well. 21 The further you can keep the layer of air around your body, the better you can retain your body heat.

BOTTOM LAYER ULLFROTTÉ ORIGINAL 200 g/m2

Designed to be worn directly against the skin as a moisture-wicking first layer. The garments work best when worn directly against the skin. The material keeps the body pleasantly warm and transports moisture away. Flat-knit polyester on the outside and terry cloth made of merino wool and polyamide on the inside.

MIDDLE LAYER ULLFROTTÉ ORIGINAL 400-600 g/m2

As a middle layer for increased thermal insulation between the bottom layer directly on the skin and the top layer, which protects against moisture and wind. The middle layer is usually suitable for colder weather or less strenuous activities. But it is also perfect as all-round clothing for indoors and outdoors, in summer and winter.

SOFT YET STABLE

Merino wool is very fine, soft and frizzy, making it ideal for clothing that is worn directly on the skin. Ullfrotté Original's wool material has 22 microns, meaning the wool fibers are 22 thousandths of a millimeter thick. This means not only a comfortable but also stable material. However, because Merino wool is frizzy, it lacks a certain level of wear resistance. To ensure that the garments we make are as durable as possible, the wool is mixed with 1/3 synthetic fibers. This is how we maximize the durability of our products so you can wear them for years to come. The bottom, body-hugging layer is mostly made of merino wool.

NATURAL FLUX

If you have worn your Woolpower product for a while, you will probably notice that it has become a bit fluffy. This pilling is nothing unusual and has an obvious reason, namely the natural materials contained in the product. This fluff does not reduce functionality in any way. We want to maintain the crimped yarn structure rather than brushing it smooth. We don't spin the yarn so tightly and knit it as loosely as possible, with loops on the inside. Therefore, the material can form lint over time. And we want to trap as much air as possible in the knit so that you stay comfortably warm. The material is stretchy and elastic and does not “stick” to the body.

WOOLPOWER KIDS When you are a child, everything in life is just one adventure. Clothing must be accordingly – comfortable, not too tight, not chafing. And, very importantly, it has to maintain the right temperature. The Woolpower range of children's clothing is made from the same material as the adult products - Ullfrotté Original. We also offer felt insoles for children, which we make from leftover fabric from our production.

WOOLPOWER LITE – THE COOLER KNIT

LITE was developed to meet the demand for a cooler alternative to Ullfrotté Original. The knit is flat knit, so it has more contact points with the skin and thus conducts heat away from the body. LITE doesn't trap as much air and doesn't insulate as effectively. The LITE knit contains more wool, but is actually cooler than Ullfrotté Original.

BOTTOM LAYER LITE

Air layers in the knit increase the body's thermal insulation. Therefore, a loosely knitted garment is warmer than a tightly knitted one. And that's why our close-meshed LITE knit is cooler, even if it contains more wool than products made from Ullfrotté Original. LITE is particularly useful when it is warmer outside. The knitted fabric helps to transport excess heat away from the body.

WOOLPOWER – SOCKS AND ACCESSORIES

The terry cloth has fantastic insulating properties and therefore keeps you warm even in damp weather. This is especially true for the feet. Woolpower socks absorb and wick away sweat without sacrificing thermal insulation. This keeps your feet pleasantly warm and dry. Woolpower socks are available in 5 versions: flat knit model Liner and the terry cloth models of 200, 400 , 600 and 800 g/m2. They can be combined in different ways depending on temperature and activity. It is crucial that you keep your feet, hands and head warm and thus ensure a pleasant heat balance. Woolpower offers accessories in three strengths: Lite, 200g and 400g.

WOOL POWER PROTECTION

We developed our Woolpower Protection collection specifically for professionals in particularly exposed environments. Protective clothing is certified to specific EN standards, which include flame retardancy, anti-static and arc flash. Wool itself is flame-retardant and does not melt, protecting against serious burns. To optimize protection, we recommend wearing a full base layer set and certified mid and top layers on top. Woolpower Protection has been tested and certified by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH). Protection LITE has also been tested in the USA and meets the minimum requirements of ASTM 1506-10A for clothing with an NFPA rating of 70E arc resistance. (ATPV) = 6.2 cal/cm2. EN 11612:2008 EN IEC 61482-1-2 EN 1149-5:2008

WOOLPOWER PROTECTION LITE

Just like our standard LITE knit, PROTECTION LITE cools more than Ullfrotté Original because its flat knit has fewer air gaps. Therefore, not as many air pockets are formed as with looser knitted material. LITE is particularly suitable when it is warmer outside, as the knit effectively dissipates excess heat. WOOLPOWER PROTECTION 400 Intended as a second layer over a thinner bottom layer, this material insulates your body heat in the terry loops. It has a looser knit than PROTECTION LITE and offers the same warmth qualities as our Ullfrotté Original 400.

THE MERINOS SHEEP FROM WOOLPOWER

Woolpower's production process begins with Merino sheep in Argentine Patagonia and Uruguay. Thanks to our constant dialogue with our yarn suppliers and our personal visits, we know that the Merino sheep graze on good pasture and are treated properly. We generally buy our raw materials directly from the manufacturer. MULESATION-FREE WOOL The origin of our merino wool is very important to us; we want to be able to fully rely on the sheep that produce it for us being treated well. In Australia, mulesing to prevent parasite infestation is a serious problem. We have therefore decided not to source wool from this country because Australian sheep farmers cannot guarantee 100% mulesing-free Merino wool. So we buy our material exclusively in the Argentine part of Patagonia and in Uruguay, where the fly species responsible for the problem does not occur. 33 Since 2008 we have no longer sourced wool from Australia and can therefore guarantee the ethical treatment of the animals. Given that we have our production in Sweden, we can respond to such issues quickly and efficiently. We want you to feel completely warm and comfortable. That's why Woolpower focuses on high quality, environmental awareness and ethics. If the fly problem is solved satisfactorily one day, we can consider cooperation with Australia again. We are constantly testing new possibilities for greater sustainability and environmental friendliness. But we still lack the know-how in certain cases, and we don't have a clear answer to everything. But we're working on it - because there's one thing we can definitely do: keep getting better. Contact us if you have any questions or suggestions for improvement.

WOOLPOWER BILL

Bill is the name of this friendly Merino ram who has been our mascot and popular figure for years. Bill and the other Merinos are sheared every year between September and November. Their fur grows continuously, so clipping is really good for them. For a Full Zip Jacket 400 we need approximately the same amount as a sheep's shearing.

THE WOOL IS SPUN IN GERMANY

The merino wool is washed, spun and dyed in Germany. Then the yarn comes to us in Östersund in huge rolls. Here we produce our unique Ullfrotté Original on machines specially designed for this purpose. The merino wool for the Woolpower LITE products comes from the same suppliers, but the knitted fabric is produced in Norrköping in southern Sweden. The garments are then sewn by us. In the future we also want to produce the Lite knitted fabric ourselves.

WE CREATE HEAT FOR 100 YEARS

We want to supply our customers with sustainable clothing that is produced in line with our core values. Regardless of whether the clothing is worn for pleasure or for work - it should always have excellent heat regulation. “We generate heat for 100 years.” That is the Woolpower vision. Of course, this assumes that we continue to be at the forefront of producing warm clothing. Our underwear and intermediate clothing must be able to cope with extreme weather conditions, sudden changes in the weather and activities of varying intensity. Our vision states that we must act as a responsible company that cares about people, animals and nature. This alone shows that we want to act in the long term and that the term sustainability is extremely important to us. Our products should be durable, just like our company. And that is the reason why we concentrate fully on our environment and take our task very, very seriously.

PRODUCTION OF THE KNITTED KNIT

Sleeves, legs and tops are knitted in the round to ensure there are as few seams as possible. The parts are then washed with normal water and shrunk for reinforcement. Once dry, we shape them onto metal molds using heat and steam. This gives the knitted fabric the desired softness and shape.

CUTTING THE PARTS

To ensure that all parts fit together perfectly, we rework the edges a little. More specifically, we punch out the pieces using large dies that look a bit like cake pans. Then our seamstresses take over.

THE SEEMERS BEHIND THE WOOLPOWER CLOTHES

In most textile factories, each sewing machine is staffed by a seamstress who sews the same seam all the time and then passes the piece to the next seamstress who sews a different seam. Quality controls often take place between two machines to check the precision and speed of the sewing work. Not so at Woolpower! Our seamstresses go from machine to machine and are their own quality inspectors. Therefore, the name tag is also a seal of quality and a reminder that behind every piece of clothing there is a person, namely a person with a high level of competence in their field. NAME: Eleonor H. Lubell OCCUPATION: Seamstress At Woolpower, I personally decide whether the item I sew meets the quality requirements. And I’m happy to take on this responsibility because ultimately I sewed the entire garment.” "

THIS IS HOW WE SPREAD HEAT AROUND THE WORLD

We pack all of our clothing ourselves in boxes or sock packs. Our products are then shipped from our warehouse all over the world. THE NAME TAG – A SEAL OF QUALITY The seamstresses inspect each piece meticulously and are responsible for the products they sew. As a kind of seal of approval, they sew a sign with their name into the finished garment. The name tag sits next to the laundry list. Check your Woolpower section to see who sewed your garment.

OUR WASHING INSTRUCTIONS – BECAUSE YOU CAN MAKE BETTER USE OF YOUR TIME

Our products do not need to be washed as often as wool has natural self-cleaning properties. So do the environment a favor and only wash your items when absolutely necessary. In most cases, simple ventilation is sufficient. WOOL IS SELF-CLEANING The ability of wool fibers to absorb and neutralize unpleasant odors is second to none. Wool is easy to care for, self-cleaning and does not smell unpleasant. The keratin contained in wool naturally breaks down the bacteria on your skin that cause unpleasant odors. At the core of the wool fibers are two types of cells that absorb different amounts of moisture. This causes constant movement friction between cell types, resulting in a mechanical self-cleaning process. Moisture on the surface of textiles promotes bacterial growth, but the surface of wool fibers remains relatively dry. The surface of the wool fibers is water-repellent, which limits bacterial growth and the resulting formation of unpleasant odors.

WHEN WASHING CAN'T BE AROUND - WOOLPOWER IS WASHABLE AT 60°C

At some point you will probably have to wash your Woolpower garment. Our Ullfrotté Original and Woolpower LITE knitted fabrics can be machine washed at 60°C and tumble dried at low heat. The surface of the wool fibers is full of small scales, which can cause lint to form when washing such garments. However, Woolpower products are treated in such a way that the wool is machine washable.

WITH OR WITHOUT DETERGENT

When washing wool textiles, you can use Woolcare, our own specialist wool detergent. Woolcare is a gentle product with lanolin, the natural wool wax, which maintains the excellent qualities of wool. You can also use normal detergent or avoid detergent altogether. Clear water is usually completely sufficient. Fabric softener should not be used and is not even necessary as Woolpower products are cuddly soft right from the start. The pieces can also be tumble dried (medium heat), but not excessively. This can damage the fibers.

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