The Edit
Activewear for Sensitive Skin
If synthetic activewear leaves you itchy, red or irritated where the fabric sits, the fabric is a reasonable place to look. Polyester and nylon do not breathe, so heat and sweat stay trapped against the skin. Many synthetic pieces also carry a chemical anti-odour finish that sits directly on your skin for the length of a workout.
- 95% Merino Wool
- Zero Polyester
- OEKO-TEX Certified
- Non-Mulesed
01 Merino Sports Bra - Crossback · Caviar
The tightest thing you will wear
Band and straps sit under pressure for a whole session, which is why this is where most people notice the difference between merino and polyester first.
02 Merino Tank - Classic (V2) · Caviar
Nothing added to it
Ultra-fine merino, OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certified, and no chemical anti-odour finish. Just the fibre against your skin.
03 High Waist Full Merino Leggings · Caviar
A high waistband, all day
Full length means maximum contact. Fine merino flexes against skin rather than pressing into it, which is the whole difference between soft and prickly.
04 Merino Fitted Tee · Cocoa
For the days you want covering
More skin covered, same fabric. Fine merino sits smooth where a cotton tee goes damp and a polyester one goes slick.
05 Merino Lightweight Long Sleeve Tee · Black
Full coverage, still breathing
Long sleeves in ultra-fine merino, so your arms are covered without the clammy feeling synthetics get once you warm up.
Estroni removes both. The fabric is 95% ultra-fine merino wool, OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certified, with no chemical odour treatment, because merino does not need one.
Why ultra-fine merino, not just wool
The itch people associate with wool is a function of fibre diameter. Coarse fibres are stiff enough to press into the skin and trigger a prickle response. Ultra-fine merino fibres are thin enough to bend against the skin instead. That is the whole reason a merino base layer feels soft where a jumper feels scratchy.
What the certification actually covers
OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 is independent testing against more than 1,000 harmful substances, including pesticides, heavy metals, formaldehyde and restricted dyes. It applies to the finished fabric, not just the raw fibre.
Sensitive skin, answered honestly
I have eczema. Will this help?
We cannot tell you what will work for your skin, and your dermatologist is the right person to ask. What we can tell you is exactly what is and is not in the fabric: ultra-fine merino wool, 5% elastane, OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certified, no polyester, no nylon, no chemical anti-odour finish.
What if I am allergic to wool?
Then this is not for you. Merino is wool. A true wool allergy is a different thing from the prickle response most people have to coarse wool, and ultra-fine fibres will not solve an actual allergy.
Does it need special washing?
Cold gentle machine wash on a wool cycle, and no fabric softener. Softener coats the fibre and undoes the breathability you paid for, which can also make the fabric feel worse against skin.
Where does merino matter most?
Wherever the garment is tightest and airflow is lowest. That is usually a bra band and a high waistband, which is why the Crossback Bra is where most people notice the difference first.