We're known for keeping people warm. Possum merino, sheepskin, a good thick sock. That's the reputation, and we're not unhappy with it. But it leaves a wrong impression: that natural fibres are a cold-weather thing, and once summer arrives you're back to synthetics.
Not so. Some of the best fibres we work with are at their best when it's warm. Here's what to reach for, and why.
Silk
Silk is the one that surprises people. It gets filed away under winter thermals, but temperature regulating cuts both ways. Warm in the cold, and cool in the heat. It breathes exceptionally well and wicks moisture away from the skin, which is precisely what you want on a hot day.
It's lightweight and glides over the body without friction, so it sits under a shirt without you noticing it's there. It's crease resistant and quick drying too, which is why it earns its place in a summer bag more than almost anything else we sell.
Kind to sensitive skin, as well. Explore our silk.
Merino
The same trick as silk, in a different fibre. Merino is a natural insulator and a temperature regulator, keeping you warm in the cold and cool in the heat. A merino t-shirt is one of those things people are sceptical about until they own one. Then it's the one they keep packing.
It's the odour resistance that tends to win them over. A merino tee can be worn day after day without complaint, which is useful in summer and rather more than useful when you're travelling and washing isn't easy. It wicks moisture and breathes, and because the fibres are so fine it sits soft against the skin, not at all scratchy the way traditional wool can be.
Bamboo
Bamboo viscose is often compared to the softest cotton, only stretchier. It's comfortable and breathable, which makes it a natural fit for warmer weather and those in-between seasons when you can't quite commit either way. It's machine washable too, so it asks very little of you.
If you want one warm-weather basic that does nearly everything, start here. Explore our bamboo range.
Hemp
As one of nature's strongest fibres, hemp is built to last. Cool, breathable and comfortable, it's at its best in warmer weather and transition seasons. And it softens with every wash, so it rewards you for wearing it.
A hemp shirt you've had for five years is better than a new one. That's rather the point of it. Have a look at our hemp.
Linen
Cool, relaxed and breathable. Because linen is woven rather than knitted, it has a structural quality that keeps air circulating and the skin cool. That's the bit you notice on a still, hot afternoon when nothing else will do.
Like hemp, it only gets better with time, softening gently with every wash. Browse our linen.
Cotton
Familiar and dependable. Soft, breathable and comfortable against the skin, cotton is the fibre most of us grew up with, and it's an easy choice for warm days and relaxed everyday wear. It never really goes out of style.
A note on layering
A warm day here can still turn cold by evening. You know how it goes. The trick isn't choosing between seasons, it's keeping something light to hand: a merino layer that packs down to nothing, or a silk one that breathes in the heat and still holds warmth when the sun drops.
That's the useful thing about natural fibres. They tend to work with the weather rather than against it.
