Seen at SIA: Ibex
Jan 24, 2007 · 01:09 AM · permalink
Last season I lost my most beloved boiled-wool ski sweater. It had been with me for a while, fit me like a glove, and required almost no cleaning. That’s because, unlike most synthetics, wool has anti-microbial properties so it doesn’t get stinky nearly as fast. Then at Neptune Mountaineering a while back I saw the simple, clean lines and great colors of some Ibex sweaters and knew I had to visit them here in Vegas.
When I went by, Keith, the Director of Marketing at Ibex, took me quickly through their lineup and told me a little about their story. Based in Woodstock, VT, Ibex sources its wool from New Zealand and has its pieces woven and assembled in mills in the US. They control the product end-to-end and take an active interest in the manufacturing process at every step. Their enthusiasm for their clothing shows in the end result.
Keith showed me quite a few pieces but I want to mention two that really grabbed me. At first glance, the Nelson crew top looks like a relatively normal long-sleeve t-shirt. But, it’s woven from incredibly fine merino wool and when you handle it there is no mistaking it for cotton. It feels both luxurious and substantial and the soft warmth of the fabric makes you want to swathe yourself in it. One of these would be great on its own, but my immediate thought was “I wonder how that would be layered under a t-shirt?”
Keith also showed me a few pieces in Ibex’s new line of seamless under garments. As I explained to him, I’m not in the habit of discussing my skivvies publicly, so let’s just say I’m a seamless fanatic for anything that comes in direct contact with my bits and pieces. The caveat is that most seamless clothes are made from synthetics and have the normal attending drawbacks. The Ibex wool, seamless skivvies I looked at really piqued my interest. They felt soft to the hand, had a robust stretchiness, and just looked comfortable without any of the frumpiness associated with the phrase “wollen undergarments.” I really hope I get to try some.
I had a great time meeting the crew at Ibex. Their genuine zeal for their products was evident and that, after all, is what it means to be a Hugger.
Oh, I almost forgot: Ibex’s wool clothing is all machine washable and guaranteed for life.
Ohhh…I love the feeling of wool. The synthetics work, but they get stinky so quickly and they never feel great.
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