We are Australian Merino Wool experts.

  • We draw on our legacy of specialist knitwear knowledge to bring the age-old Merino Wool fibre into the present. Grounded by the ancestral legacy of ambition and enquiry into Australian Merino Wool, co-Directors and twin brothers Simon and Steve Smith honour their heritage with a reverence for tradition and an appreciation of modern quality.

  • Merino Wool is a regenerative, natural fibre which underpins Toorallie’s commitment to quality. Derived from the Merino sheep, it is (on a microscopic level) a hollow fibre that traps air to form a breathable and insulative material. The wool is spun into yarn to form modern garments with moisture-wicking properties and a characteristic resistance to odour and stains. The fibre also maintains its shape after wearing and washing, lending it long-lasting wearability.

We design with intention, honouring the inimitable benefits of the merino wool fibre from the outset through to the finished garment.

  • The process begins by selecting Merino fleece from Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) accredited farms. RWS is an industry tool to ensure progressive land management and uphold animal welfare standards.

  • This decision is backgrounded by our frank approach to sustainability: the fashion industry will never be truly circular. In response to this we create garments of technical conviction and enduring design: made to stand the test of time.

Designed with Intention

  • Generations of expertise are employed when selecting wool: evaluating micron, staple length, crimp, and lustre unique to each fleece. The qualities are reflected in
    the finished garment and can be separated into two distinct categories of knitwear: Worsted and Woollen.

     

    Worsted and Woollen styles refer to the different fabric surfaces best achieved by distinctions in micron, staple length and lustre. Yarn is scoured, spun, and dyed based on the desired characteristics specified by the collaborative effort of our production and design team at our North Fitzroy head office (Victoria). Resilience is twisted into each yarn to form a robust material ready for a lifetime of wear.

  • We work closely with specialist factories in Guangdong Province and Shanghai, China, to produce our fully-fashioned, circular, and hosiery knitwear, Merino-Denim™ and Merino-Lounge in beautifully useful garments.

     

    Each partnership shares the common pursuit to push the technical and scientific practice of knitwear production even further. Upholding uncompromising standards of care, transparency, and land, animal and community welfare creates an empowered chain that strengthens our community.

Full Circle

  • Our mission today is to honour the circular nature of Merino Wool in considered garments with present-day practicality. Toorallie stands for undeniable quality, designed with generations of ambitions and reinforced with a practical Australian spirit.