Merino Skins®

Merino Thermal Underwear Manufacturer

Merino Wool Thermal Base Layers

Superfine and Warm

Our Double Knitted base layers are made with superfine merino wool, sourced locally in clean green Australia.

Natural, durable, lightweight and soft our clothing is naturally breathable and wicks moisture from your skin, so you can feel comfortable all day. Our thermals will keep you warm even in the most extreme conditions, or under your winter clothes for cosy comfort.

Whether your wear them in the city or mountains, hiking, skiing, cycling or for everyday use, merino is a natural, sustainable choice for the planet.

We manufacture all of our garments in our own factory here in Melbourne, Australia, where we constantly monitor strict quality control procedures.

All of our garments proudly carry the Woolmark logo and are 100% certified.

We are seriously committed to ethical sustainability and are fully accredited by Ethical Clothing Australia.

We ship worldwide right to your door.

Merino Wool T-Shirts

Relaxed fit 100% merino wool t-shirts.Made in Australia.

Our 230 gsm Merino t-shirts are available in short and long sleeves, and black or white colours. Manufactured from 100% Australian Merino wool in our Melbourne factory, our Merino t-shirts have stood the test of time. Ideal for hiking, cycling, and outdoor work, as a base layer or as a standalone garment they are the perfect garment to regulate your temperature in both hot and cold conditions.

Shop Merino Skins T-Shirts

hiking lady wearing short sleeve merino t shirt
Merino Skins the official merino supplier to the Australian Paralympic winter team

Merino Skins® Base Layers

Merino Skins® are stylish, high-performance breathable Merino activewear that combines performance with function. Made from the finest, softest Australian Merino wool, Merino Skins® keep you blissfully warm when needed most. Naturally superior moisture-wicking and odor-fighting, helping you feel great all day whether you’re skiing, camping, mountain climbing, running, hunting or wearing around the house or office. The unique temperature regulating, odor, UV resistance and moisture controlling properties of Merino Skins® Merino wool base layers ensure you stay at your optimal body temperature in all conditions.

Merino Skins® base layer thermal wear have appeared in various Olympic events, featuring in the opening ceremony of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney and as the preferred thermal underwear for the Australian Winter Olympics Team at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games.

We’re passionate about Australian Wool

Ktena Knitting Mills is an authentic, independently owned Australian manufacturer of high-quality Merino wool thermal and activewear.

Our range of Australian Merino wool garments is designed, knitted, dyed, sewn and packaged at our factory which is located in Melbourne Australia, ensuring exceptional style and sustained quality.

Ktena Knitting is committed to the authentic Australian manufacture of quality woolen products. We passionately believe in bringing wool to life through our finest Merino wool garments that are soft, comfortable and a pleasure to wear.

As a leading manufacturer of Australian merino wool garments, Ktena embraces the history behind our wonderful woolen knitting mill, with our growing range of uniquely Australian, merino wool products.

Ktena manufactures both Merino Skins® – performance sports style ranges and the famous Thermo Fleece® range – a more casual everyday wear selection.

hiking lady wearing long sleeve merino t shirt and merino long johns
man and lady in thermo fleece merino underwear

Thermo Fleece® Merino Underwear

Thermo Fleece® underwear is the unique result of a perfect blend of sophisticated technology, wool growing in Australia.

Australia’s superfine Merino wools represent over 100 years of expert breeding and refinement resulting in only the softest, finest and whitest Merino wools in the world. Prickle free, our Merino wool thermal garments are available in both double knitted interlock fabric and in our exquisitely feminine pointelle pattern fabrics, without side seams and are fully machine washable.

A Thermo Fleece® garment is your guarantee of unsurpassed luxury, comfort and warmth without compromise…naturally.

Why Thermo Fleece®?

Thermo Fleece® woolen underwear keeps you warm as toast in the coldest conditions without ever feeling clammy – even if you’re wearing rainproof clothing over the top!  Thermo Fleece® merino woolen underwear offers the very best in quality, it’s knitted from 100% pure super soft wool from Australian Merino sheep.

Developed after years of research, Australian super soft Merino wool is blissfully comfortable and prickle free against the skin, yet it’s incredibly easy to care for – the unique double knit interlock and pointelle pattern knit fabric guarantees long wear and no shrinkage and you can even machine wash it. All garments are also “side seam-free” for supreme comfort. Try Thermo Fleece® woolen underwear and enjoy the difference.

merino lambs eating grass

100% Merino

Only 100% Merino is best.

When another fiber is blended with merino wool is it primarily for one reason and one reason only – cost!

Other fibers are significantly cheaper than merino wool.

You may have noticed many brands now advertise as “Merino” but when you look closely, they are actually a blend (some call it fusion) of Merino and other inferior fibers such as polyester, modal, acrylic, nylon, elastane, spandex and other marketing terms. These synthetic fibers they add are approximately 80% cheaper than merino wool, a clever way to bulk up the fabric with second rate fillers and hope no one notices the difference.

Merino Skins® base layers are made from 100% Merino wool.

The Merino wool we use in Merino Skins® isn’t just any old Merino wool either. We carefully select non mulesed superfine merino wool from local farms here in Australia that have long fiber lengths to ensure the garments are itch-free, soft and comfortable against the skin.

Don’t be fooled, read the fabric contents carefully before you buy, don’t compromise with inferior “Merino” blends disguised as pure Merino, only buy 100% Merino – natures miracle fiber.

lady washing merino garments

Easy Care

Merino Skins® base layers are 100% easy care.

Unlike many other brands of Merino base layers that are hand wash and line dry only, Merino Skins are fully machine washable and tumble dryable.

Due to our unique double knit interlock fabric construction together with our fabric being preshrunk before sewing Merino Skins® are truly easy care – machine wash and tumble dryable.

You don’t have to worry, just throw them in the machine (please read washing instructions) and they come out looking fantastic every time.

A tour of our Oakleigh factory and process

YouTube video
Brian Cowper
Brian Cowper
22:20 21 Dec 22
With a recent bout of cold weather in Melbourne I was looking for top quality Merino Underwear for an elderly friend of... mine. Ktena provided excellent service and products with prompt posting and packaging and making the gift something special. My elderly friend pressed them into service a couple of weeks ago and commented to his daughter "I love them!". Thanks Ktena.read more
Kim
Kim
00:54 07 Sep 22
Wonderful place to get those thermals. Australian wool, Australian made and local to my area. Great prices too. A... lovely lady served me. Knowledgeable and so helpful. Thankyou so much Ktena.read more
E Ward
E Ward
05:26 01 Sep 22
Ktena make a true, quality product. For the long johns and top, I ordered up a size from normal leggings and t-shirt... sizes that I would buy, and they were a nice, snug fit. They are the Merino Wool and very soft, made very well, and highly recommended!read more
Desmond Fittock
Desmond Fittock
05:33 29 Jul 22
I have placed 2 orders in the last 2 weeks and both have receivedextremely fast attention, and have both arrived... within a few days.Great service, thank you.Best regards,Des.read more
Gus Fourteen
Gus Fourteen
08:36 23 Jul 22
Found these great value merino skins on the website, and decided to visit the factory outlet in Oakleigh. A big drive... from Brunswick, but well worth it. Excellent quality Aussie product, friendly service. Ended up buying 4!read more
Janet Long
Janet Long
04:33 17 Jul 22
I found the staff are very polite and helpful. The product are the highest quality. I would recommend anyone who wants... to buy thermal Underwear to go Ktena Knitting Millsread more
Pete Jenkins
Pete Jenkins
13:12 02 Jul 22
Warm and comfortable. 1st merino shirt lasted three years with constant use thru winter, and it's still going. Updated... in 2022 with long johns for me and thermals for my wife. Very happy with the products. I'm in the outdoors all day (job and leisure) and they are great for managing sweat and warmth. Thanks Ktenaread more
Louise Waller
Louise Waller
12:36 20 Jun 22
From the moment I walked in I was met with hostility. I wanted to take my disabled mother there but she wouldn’t be... able to get up the 3 steps at the front, so I asked if there was another access. There was none, so I asked if could send a photo of the different necklines to my mother so that she could make a selection. The lady threw the spencers on the table and left the showroom, saying ‘I have 1000 things to do’. She was using an extremely rude and bothered tone. When she returned I asked if items could be returned if they didn’t fit and I was met with a complete telling off. In my mind it was a simple question that could be answered with a yes or no. The lady working today clearly didn’t want to be dealing with customers. This shop does not have any disability access, which is understandable for an old building. But my attempts at helping my mother still access this product were met with hostility. It’s a shame people can’t be more accommodating of the needs of people with mobility issues. My mother still doesn’t have a spencer and this shop was so hostile towards my attempts to buy one for her.read more
Rose Ronne
Rose Ronne
20:20 18 Jun 22
I found this Company via Google. I have never had such a prompt and courteous reply from any Company , and I have been... many years on this Earth..I have recommended my co-workers to Ktena and always mention their Fast Delivery and have recieved mentions that they have agreed.read more
Silvana Monte
Silvana Monte
22:16 03 Jun 22
Ktena Knitting Mills, customer service is exemplary. My order was missing my husbands Thermo Fleece when my package... arrived. I emailed them and almost immediately I had a reply, that the third item had been overlooked and that it had been packed and sent via express post with an extra garment. The products are delightful and feel warm and soft on your skin. Service like this is unheard of these days, so a big pat on the back to your company and I will not hesitate to recommend Ktena to my friends.read more
Tony Laurent
Tony Laurent
00:26 03 Jun 22
Bought Merino Skins and Thermal Fleece t/under shirts from Ktena. Great products ! Fast delivery.What I really love... about Ktena is that they are Aussie owned and the goods made here in Victoria. I urge all my fellow Australians to support this company - do not buy cheap suspect rubbish from China. Oh, and that buy bona fide Aussie policy goes across the board for all goods and services. Sometime costs a bit more, but you get very good quality and you are safeguarding our kids' futures.Thank you Ktena !read more
Faye Charnstrom
Faye Charnstrom
01:50 02 Jun 22
Because of incorrect sizing I returned my purchases within 2 days of purchase. After speaking to Ktena, the management... generously agreed to give me a full refund. I am still waiting. PayPal now is involved trying to resolve this. Even after aust post tracking had delivered the purchase to the business on the 10 th of May. No response.read more
Periklis Micha
Periklis Micha
00:42 18 Apr 22
Just received my merino skin garments. Extremely satisfied. High quality and Australian made! Recommended to anyone... looking for premium Australian made merino wool garments.read more
Wayne Mill
Wayne Mill
10:04 16 Apr 22
What a fantastic experience we had going to Ktena for the first time. The service was 5 star and we were thankful for... the experienced advice we received and the Merino clothing wasOf such high quality at such great prices. And most of all it is all MADE IN AUSTRALIA.Well done Ktena.Go visit or buy online you will not be disappointed.read more
Stephen Chapman
Stephen Chapman
01:30 07 Sep 21
Very happy as I've recently received my thermal tops. They are sooo warm. I have the crew neck & half zip, both long... sleeve. Nothing wrong with my original tops, i made the mistake of showing them to my snow skiing daughter in canada & they were missing from my bag when i returned......read more
Adrian Barker
Adrian Barker
05:09 16 Jul 21
I have bought woollen thermals from quite a few different suppliers over many years.Some are OK and some are absolute... rubbish!And then there is Ktena Knitting Mills, right here in Melbourne.Once you wear Ktena products you will never go back to anything else!They are by far the very best.Not itchy, fantastically warm and machine washable (wool cycle of course!)And on top of that the clever style of knit means they last a very long time.So, if you want the very best in beautiful, comfortable woollen thermals, do what I do, only buy Ktena!read more
Bill Vlass
Bill Vlass
00:10 15 Jun 21
I purchase the Merino Skins with zip for many years, they've become like a second skin.Best quality you can get.The... staff is pretty good too!God bless you's all at KTENA.read more
Allan Duncan
Allan Duncan
23:10 19 May 21
just bought 2 thermo merino fleece singlets. Very warm and are great quality made singlets. Delivery was fast. Very... happy.read more
Mel Meunier
Mel Meunier
11:03 23 Mar 21
The quality of these products is amazing and their customer service is fantastic. I ordered some items from their... Thermo Fleece collection and was sent the wrong items. I emailed the company to let them know that I had not received the items I ordered. The company responded promptly and I received the items I had ordered within a few days. They did not require the other items to be returned and I was pleasantly surprised with a free gift. I highly recommend this company for quality products and great customer service.read more
Teresa Pelle
Teresa Pelle
10:48 18 Mar 21
Ktena's products are simply beautiful and of a high quality. Their prices are so competitive compared to other similar... products offered in large retail stores.I love their quick and effortless service, and supporting local is always my priority!read more
Marty Hicks
Marty Hicks
16:24 09 Feb 21
Fantastic product and great customer support. Keeping me warm outside all day long in Saint Paul sub-zero temperatures.
Jeanne Marie Booth
Jeanne Marie Booth
04:48 09 Dec 20
Well it has been a revelation to wear these Merino Skins, nothing short of amazed. Had no idea this level of quality... and comfort existed. Communication was as superior as their product. Happy I persevered in searching for such quality. Guess that saying proves true in this case, you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find a prince. Thanks to all of you at Ktena Knitting Mills for your commitment to quality of comfort!.read more
Joy Kaias
Joy Kaias
08:52 17 Oct 20
Have purchased several merino tops from Ktena on two occasions now. The tops are high quality and Ktena’s service is... exceptional. Highly recommend.read more
Outback Broadheads
Outback Broadheads
00:07 11 Aug 20
Excellent quality, even better pricing and service. Support the Aussie made gear, it's better in all aspects.
Elena Semenova
Elena Semenova
05:25 17 Jul 20
I highly recommend Merino wool leggings. I suffer from arthritis in both knees and find suitable pants to wear outdoors... in winter - is a challenge. I purchased these wonderful leggings and could not believe the change it made! I enjoy being outside and hardly feel the stiffnessin my legs. Great product!read more
Stu H
Stu H
05:51 15 Jun 20
Very friendly staff and excellent clothing, couldn't be happier with the quality and price. I bought the 'Merino Skins'... in long sleeve, crew neck (grey) which I've used now on several very cold nights on the motorcycle, works perfectly and very comfortable under the jacket. Also got a pair of "Thermo Fleece" long johns' (black) which are also excellent. Also tested these on the motorcycle and crawling around under the 4WD on cold concrete, works perfectly, very comfortable. Price is also fantastic considering it's Aussie made. 100% will be coming back for more :-)read more
Cheryl L
Cheryl L
10:51 22 May 20
Soft and comfortable merino tops and bottoms, best I've found so far in several Australian brands, both for quality... (and longevity), and price.My original Merino Skins are several years old and still going well, no holes, soft and warm despite being worn most of winter for 5 years. They also have a great range of wool blend in a bunch of styles, plus the service in the shop is excellent. Do yourself a favour and buy a set of thermals.read more
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