Built to inspire the world to wear natural fibres, this new collection of merino wool and plant-based styles offers performance alternatives to synthetic-based apparel.

icebreaker

About icebreaker Canada

Soft isn’t the first word that comes to mind when you think of wool. But, icebreaker's line of warm, odour-resistant, and moisture wicking merino clothing feels so good, it’s hard to take off.

Land of the Sheep

The year was 1994 and Jeremy Moon was a broke, 24-year old backpacker, exploring the Southern Alps of his home country, New Zealand. He had just met a local sheep farmer who introduced him to a fibre that would change his life. This introduction sparked what would be one of icebreaker's most iconic products: merino wool underwear.
The 90’s was an interesting time for performance attire. Synthetic materials were king and little was known about the harsh chemicals used to improve garment durability. Moon had quite the journey ahead of him if he wanted to convince the world that he had the natural fibre to rule all fibres.
And, convince the world, he did. Today, the brand has established itself as a global enterprise. They’ve partnered with organisations in countries such as Japan, Germany and ...France to produce their products. Employees are hired in Canada, the United States, Brazil and the list goes on.
Over the years, they’ve expanded their apparel line to include socks, bras, hats, gloves and other accessories. Warm in the winter, cool in the summer, Icebreaker has what you need in merino wool.

It’s All In the Fibres

Merino wool is a cutting-edge fabric. Biodegradable, skin-safe and with a low-impact production process, this fibre is just about perfect. The material provides a temperature regulating experience that can be used in both warm and cold climates, wet or dry.
In summer months merino wool provides a naturally odour-resistant, moisture-wicking and breathable experience. This allows the material to dry fast when wet and keep smelly sweat from accumulating on thru-hikes or long climbs.
Despite the thinness of merino, it maintains a high heat retention in both cold and wet conditions. The moisture-wicking and breathable properties ensure that high-activity output isn’t followed by the chills from cold sweat.
Merino wool has an unrivaled versatility in the field––anywhere, anytime, any climate, icebreaker will help you get there.

Steadfast Sustainability

icebreaker hides no secrets when it comes to the production of their garments and the materials they use to make them. The brand provides transparency reports that are available to anyone to read. This includes the structures and standards maintained by their farms, yarn processing factories, and product manufacturers.
The company believes three pillars guide nature and they use this model as a basis for their business model: adaptation, symbiosis and sustainability.
Living things thrive or die based on adaptability to changing environments and must work together to benefit mutually with no reason to waste anything. They state that “Waste is a uniquely human trait.” and they stand to fix that problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Icebreaker merino from?

Icebreaker merino is from the wonderful and rugged Southern Alps of New Zealand. The founder of Icebreaker, Jeremy Moon, met a local sheep herder while out and about in the local wilderness back in 1995. It was then that he discovered the magical properties of merino wool and the brand's iconic underwear was born.

What does Icebreaker mean?

In general, the term icebreaker means “a thing that serves to relieve inhibitions or tension between people, or start a conversation.”
In the company’s case, they chose the name Icebreaker with a similar concept in mind. The company states their ethos, “We explore the relationship between people and nature. It’s about kinship, not conquering.”

Is Icebreaker a good brand?

Icebreaker is a good brand that believes we need to move away from wasteful production practices. This is good for both the health of the people who wear their products and the development of our planet.
The company is transparent about their practices and standards maintained by the brand and their manufacturing partners. They maintain good relationships with the farmers and stay involved in every step of the process to ensure both a high-quality and ethically produced product.