Old and New in Merino Range With Wool and Nano-technology

News Release / 23.01.2013

Merino pioneer Icebreaker’s Fall/Winter 2013 collection is its most innovative and technologically advanced range ever. 

The range includes tops and jackets that combine nanotechnology and soft shell construction with merino wool to give advanced protection against wind and rain for outdoor, run/fitness and travel customers. Other highlights include pants and skirts that weave together two of nature’s best performing fibres – merino and organic cotton. 

Icebreaker’s Bodyfit base layer collection has been upgraded with new design features and fresh styles and colours, and there are new luxury knitwear pieces, casual sweaters, sophisticated dresses, high performance socks and stunning accessories.

“This collection has something for everyone, whether they’re hikers, skiers, trail runners, cyclists or global travellers,” says Rob Achten, Icebreaker Creative Director and Vice President of Product. 

Among the highlights of the new collection are Icebreaker’s nanotechnology and soft shell garments, which give extra protection against winter weather without sacrificing the comfort, softness and breathability of nature’s premium merino. 

Icebreaker’s new bluesign®-accredited nanotechnology styles contain tiny nano particles with a ridged surface that reduces contact area, allowing water, oil and mud to simply run off. Nano styles include two technical lightweight sports tops, the Dart LS Half Zip for women and the Drive LS Half Zip for men, and the Quantum+ Hood – a water-resistant version of Icebreaker’s versatile best-selling mid layer. 

Tapping into this season’s trend for hybrid fabrics are the women’s Cascade+ Hood and the men’s Sierra+ Hood. Designed for hiking and skiing, these hooded jackets are made from Icebreaker’s luxurious Realfleece brushed fleece fabric with nanotechnology and strategic soft shell panels.

The Viento Jacket and Viento Hood for women and the Stealth Jacket and Stealth Hood for men are new soft shell jackets for the outdoors, while the women’s Highline ¾ Jacket and men’s Legion Jacket are beautifully-designed soft shell travel jackets. 

Also new is the Legend LS Zip for men and women, which is Icebreaker’s warmest-ever mid layer. With stylish insulated quilting on the front, the Insulator is warm yet exceptionally lightweight - one layer takes the place of several. 

In its Spring/Summer 2013 collection, Icebreaker launched a shorts collection made from two high performance natural fibres – 70% merino with 30% organic cotton for extra durability and shape. The range was so successful that Icebreaker is now offering new styles made from the same blend: the chic Vista Skirt and Vista Pants for women, and the Seeker Pants for men. 

The Black Sheep collection of luxury fine-gauge knitwear includes the Coronet heritage series of après-ski-style sweaters for men and women, and the athletic Vantage sweaters for men. There are two great-value collections of casual sweaters – the Crave collection for women, and the boldly-striped Escape collection for men. Four of the new women’s sweaters are front-to-back reversible. 

Also joining the collection is the Ariana Dress, with a crushed cowl neckline, and the classic Harmony ¾ Sleeve Tunic.

Icebreaker has always been a market innovator in developing techniques to create strong colours, graphics and textures on merino fabric, and Fall/Winter 2013 continues the trend. The collection includes dip dying, over-dyed stripes and feed stripes, with an on-trend colour palette featuring saturated fall tones and pastels.