The natural properties of merino wool might be magical, but your new Extrafine Knit won't look after itself. Here's everything you need to know to take care of it and keep it for years.

Merino wool is self-cleaning, so it doesn't hold onto bacteria or odours. Which means you won't need to wash your Knit after every wear. A wash every 4 or 5 wears will do the trick, as long as you air it out for a few hours between outings.

We get that this might sound a bit far-fetched if you're wearing a merino wool knit for the first time, but you'll soon see we're not pulling your leg.

The cherry on top: spacing out the washes saves water, energy and a bit of cash on your bank statement.

When it's time for a wash, pop your Extrafine Knit in the machine on a cold wool cycle, 30°C maximum. Above all, make sure you select a slow spin cycle, never above 400 rpm.

Hand washing at 40°C max is also fine if you don't trust the machine. Just make sure you do it in cold water and don't wring the Knit when it comes to the spin cycle. Better to fold it and gently press from top to bottom to get the water out.

If you've got knitted items, you'll already know the drill: lay them flat to dry to avoid them losing their shape. Same goes for the Extrafine Knit. A flat surface, a towel underneath to avoid any water damage, and you're sorted.

PS: if you were thinking about putting your new friend in the tumble dryer, that's a hard no. Give the tumble dryer a wide berth - it'll do far more harm than good. She'll thank you for it.

Our jersey and merino wool have a natural elasticity that makes the fabric pretty crease-resistant, but nothing's stopping you giving it a quick iron if you want a perfectly smooth Knit. In that case, set your iron to the "wool" setting, 150°C max, and just do a few quick passes, ideally with a layer of fabric between the iron and the knit.

Since 1 January 2024, the AGEC law requires all textile brands to be transparent about what goes into their products so we can all have a much better idea of exactly what we're buying. We didn't wait for the legislation to do this, we actually lobbied for it, and we think it's an important step in the right direction to change the way our industry works. So here are a few extra details about your Extrafine Knit:

• It's 100% recyclable after dismantling. In other words, if your time together comes to an end, your item can be fully recycled. That said, we'd always recommend repairing and/or handing it down to someone before recycling.
• It doesn't contain plastic microfibres. Unlike a lot of clothing that sheds microplastics in the wash, it's been designed to minimise its environmental impact. Plastic microfibres are tiny particles that wreak havoc on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
• It doesn't contain any hazardous substances. It respects strict European standards aimed at eliminating substances and chemical treatments that could be harmful to you, the environment, and the people who make it.
• It doesn't contain recycled materials. Sometimes we manage to use recycled materials to further reduce the impact of our clothes. Unfortunately, that wasn't possible in this case.

There you have it. Stick to these few simple rules and your new sidekick will be with you for years - which is exactly what we want.

On our end, we'll be back in touch soon to hear how you're getting on after a few weeks together. In the meantime, if we've missed something or you have any questions hit us up here: support@asphalte.com or on Insta.

Thanks again for trusting us, and speak soon.

ASPHALTE