Lifestyle Merino
Lifestyle Merino
Crafted for everyday and active lifestyles
Kapeka creates sustainable Merino and Merino-blended clothing to celebrate and respect this magnificent fibre. Our products are designed and manufactured in right here in New Zealand, using the highest quality Extra-Fine New Zealand Merino wool. This includes an active range specifically designed with technical fabrics to support performance in all weather conditions.
The history of Merino sheep in New Zealand
Merino sheep are thought to be the oldest breed of sheep in the world, having evolved from several wild species. Between the 1840s to 1860s, Merino sheep were introduced to New Zealand from Australia. Kiwi breeders improved the quality of the Merino sheep by importing small quantities of stock from the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States. By 1880s, the New Zealand Merino was a unique type, producing wool far superior to any other. Kapeka uses New Zealand Merino wool because it is the very best in the world.
What is Merino wool?
Merino wool comes off the Merino sheep, and is a particularly fine, incredibly soft, and extremely lightweight fibre. It has high performance aspects compared to normal wool, making it the ultimate choice for clothing, knitwear and accessories.
What makes Merino wool so special?
Merino wool is clever and multi-talented. Fine Merino wool fibres trap air to create insulation, yet each fibre can also breathe, absorb and release moisture to prevent overheating. These properties all help the wearer to keep warm in Winter, and cool in Summer, as well as resisting odour and soiling. Remember, Merino sheep wear their fleece all year round so it has to be tough! Merino wool fibres have tiny scales that lock together, making it extra strong and resilient. Nature has done the hard work for us, you cannot get an all natural fibre that is as intelligent and practical as Merino wool.
Features and benefits
- keeps you cool when hot, and warm when cold
- resists odour build up and soiling
- can retain as much as 30% of own weight in water without feeling damp, and will still keep you warm when wet
- naturally flame resistant
- renewable, recyclable and biodegrable
- easy to care for, anti-wrinkle and garments do not have static cling
At Kapeka we love New Zealand Merino wool. We make every Kapeka Merino garment to the highest quality, aiming to create a beautiful and fashionable garment, so you can love it too.
View our Merino range
Learn About Kapeka
Natural & Sustainable
Sustainable natural fibres have always been at the heart of Kapeka, well before their wider benefits became globally appreciated. Possums harvested for the fibre blend...
Kapeka's Fernmark Certification
Kapeka is proud of its Fernmark certification. An endorsement by the New Zealand Government, a mark of trust that communicates a product's country of origin and connection...
Decades of Expertise
We have been crafting New Zealand made luxury knitwear for over 27 years. Founded by Peter Hanson, when opportunity was seen to bring together the...
Find Your Perfect Fit: Where to Buy Kapeka Knitwear in New Zealand
Kapeka Knitwear is your go-to for luxurious, New Zealand-made knitwear that blends timeless style with premium natural fibers like merino, possum, and alpaca. But where...
Zero-Waste Fashion Through Whole Garment Technology
Since the beginning, Kapeka has always prioritised natural, sustainable fibres locally made here in New Zealand to reduce our own carbon emission. From sourcing the...
Kapeka's Sponsorship and Community Involvement
Kapeka is a proud sponsor of the New Zealand Ski Team and International Ski Racing Academy. We are particularly proud of Alice Robinson, recent winner of...
Regenerative Fibres
At Kapeka, we make use of possums caught in the wild through the pest control process to develop our fibres Merinosilk & Mahana Cashmere. In...
The Story behind Kapeka using Possum Fur
The common brushtail possum, was first introduced to New Zealand from Australia in 1837 to establish a fur trade. The possum has a thick, bushy tail,...
The Kapeka Guide To Looking After Your Knitwear
What is the best way to care for your knitwear? This guide tells you all you need to know on how to care and wash all...
All You Need To Know: Merino Base Layers, Body wear and Thermals
Regardless of what you call it base layers, body wear and thermals all are the close-fitting layer that are key to keeping warm and dry...
Our heritage is championed through the manufacturing, designs and colours of every Kapeka garment. Our head designer, Bridget Morgan has thorough knowledge on procurement of fine, low micron, quality fibre, the blending of fibres to make it superior and the design to ensure unique, elegant style with a comfortable fit, all of which is sustainably sourced and made.
We proudly hold the FernMark, a New Zealand Government endorsement of trust and origin. We partner with New Zealand’s most experienced knitwear artisans to craft knitwear. All our garments are pill-resistant, pre-shrunk, hand-finished and trialled for durability and consistency giving the customer a garment that will last.
Possums can cause catastrophic dieback, the complete collapse of a forest canopy – especially tree species that possums prefer, such as rātā and kāmahi. At Kapeka, we make use of possums caught in the wild through the pest control process to develop our fibres Merinosilk & Mahana Cashmere