About
Acrylic is a man-made synthetic fiber that was developed in the 1940's, and is nowadays considered as an excellent substitute for wool. Early acrylic was regarded as a “cheap” and uncomfortable material that pilled easily and the first garments made was quite itchy and not as soft as it is today. New manufacturing methods as solved these issues and many prefer acrylic to natural fibers at they tend to be easier to care for.
Characteristics
Acrylic has many similarities to wool; it is soft, warm, holds color well, and is both stain an wrinkle resistant. Garments made with acrylic can be an excellent substitute for those who love wool but are allergic to is. Some of its disadvantages is that it is not very absorbent to moisture, can pill easily and may shrink. It is also quite heat-sensitive so make sure to iron any acrylic garments carefully.
Good to know
Acrylic garments has grown popular in sports garments - socks in acrylic for instance is a great choice for kids playing football or baseball as they keep their shape longer and can be highly elastic. Acrylic socks can also be a great choice for hikers as they are less likely to cause blisters, which you will get easily from cotton socks.
Blends
Acrylic is often blended with wool to decrease the heat-sensitivity and shrinkage of acrylic, and at the same time improving the feel or appearance of a wool garments and to reduce the natural wool felting.
Aftercare
Machine wash cold on 40°. We suggest you use a mild cleaning product, such as The Laundress Wool & Cashmere detergent. Do not bleach, carefully iron on low heat without steam, can be dry cleaned, do not tumble dry.
* Sources: “Clothing Technology 3rd Edition” by Eberle, Hermeling, Hornberger, Menzer and Ring