It's Here! Just in time for the Family Fun Day at Bushy Park! September 15 2017

Finally our long-awaited shipment from New Zealand is here! We are dying to show you our new merino wool goodies straight off the boat and you can be the first to see them if you are in and around Bushy Park this Saturday for the Family Fun Day which we have a stand at.

We will be getting them up on our website as fast as we can but first we need to make a phone call to our official photographer! So please bear with us for a few more days while we get photos taken. In the meantime, drop us an email on info@snowgrassmerino.ie if you have any requests or come and see us in Bushy!

Looking For Something? August 31 2017

If you've been cruising our pages you've probably noticed we're a bit low on stock and missing a few sizes, but, don't worry, we've just a received a phone call from the shipping company and our big shipment from New Zealand has arrived at the Dublin port! Yay!

So any day now we will be all stocked up again. There are a few new colours and styles so we'll be getting busy taking photos so we can load them up on our website, but bear with us, we'll be as quick as we can. In the meantime, if you have any questions just email us on info@snowgrassmerino.ie or give Helen a buzz on 01 406 9713

Time to Pack Away Your Winter Woollies – But Not Your Merino! May 16 2017

Yay! Summer is here! There is nothing like the warmth of the sun and the light evenings to lighten up the soul after a long winter (although, admittedly, the winter in Ireland was actually a fabulous one – beautiful, clear, crisp days and very little wind or rain, so we were lucky).

But now that the sun is shining it is a great time for flinging open the windows, tidying up the garden and getting the house into order. And one of those jobs is putting away all those winter clothes that keep us snug in the cold months. But before you put away all your wool items be sure to hang onto your merino ones, especially the lighter-weighted ones as merino is fabulous to wear in the summer months.

There are 3 Big Reasons for this.

Not So Sticky!

Being a natural fibre the merino wool fibres have the fantastic ability to respond to the air temperature and also to your own body temperature. When you are hot, merino wool will absorb any moisture from your body. This is because merino wool can absorb up to 35% of its own weight in moisture and still feel dry to the touch. So it will take any sweat from your skin and evaporate it to the air. This leaves you drier and fresher. Whereas polyester can only absorb 1% - leaving you in one sticky sweaty mess – no, thank you!

Not So Smelly!

Merino wool is fabulously odour resistant. This is also thanks to the merino wool fibre’s ability to absorb moisture and also to the naturally occurring Lanolin in the wool which is anti-bacterial. The bacteria that create the odour require a moist environment and thanks to merino wool and Lanolin, this is kept to a minimum. So, take up the challenge of how many days you can wear a Snowgrass Merino Top before having to wash it!

Not So SunBurnt!

Another great advantage of merino wool is that it offers full protection (UPF 50) against the sun. This is due to its amazing ability to absorb radiation across the entire UV spectrum. This is a fantastic benefit as there is nothing worse than discovering you’ve been burnt through some flimsy cotton t-shirt you’ve been wearing!

So pack all those heavier wool items away but leave out your lovely lighter merino wool items. And don’t forget our challenge of how many days you can wear a Snowgrass Top – you’ll be amazed!

What Size Beanie? Choosing the Right Beanie For You February 09 2017

We get asked all the time about the sizes of our Merino Wool Beanies and what age do they fit, but it can be quite difficult to answer because, as we all know, heads come in different sizes, no matter how old you are!

Our Merino Wool Beanies come in 4 different sizes - Small, Medium, Large and X Large - but even then it’s difficult to assign an age to each size. The reason is because the right size for you is not only to do with the size of your head but it mainly comes down to personal preference as to how snug you like to wear them, and even factors such as the amount of hair you have needs to be taken into account. 

Even so, we’ve sold a lot of beanies in our time and based on that experience we have put together a general guide. If you are still in doubt please feel free to email us at info@snowgrassmerino.ie as we would love to help you further. Also keep in mind that we do offer Free Shipping so it won’t cost you anything extra (and, just between you and me, we’ve also be known to offer Free Returns when the person has emailed us and are still a bit unsure of size) so the upshot of it is that you won’t be out of pocket if you want to return any unwanted sizes.

Size Guide

Small - This size is for babies. From newborns to around 2 years of age.

Medium - This size is from 1-2 years of age up to 5-6 years of age. (Although, we do know a man who bought this size!)

Large - This size is from 4-5 years of age upwards. Many adults buy this size and they fit perfectly.

X Large - This size is mainly for adults but some kids might prefer this size too, especially if they have larger heads (like our boys!)

But, like we said, email us at info@snowgrassmerino.ie and we'll try to guide you as best as we can. Or, even better, if you are in the vicinity of County Dublin then come along and see us on any Sunday at the Marlay Park Market, and then you can try them on yourself there and then. If you can’t make it to Marlay Park and you would still like to try them on then drop us an email at info@snowgrassmerino.ie and we can organise to meet you somewhere. It’s no problem and we enjoy meeting our customers in person anyway.

Hopefully, this guide will give you some idea and if you are still in doubt then please get in contact, we are very happy to help :-)

Great News - We Are Back In Stock! January 07 2017

Yay! Our shipment of Merino Wool Beanies and Neck Gaiters have arrived in Dublin!

We've got loads of new exciting colours and also a few of the old favourites. Please bear with us while our fab product photographer gets busy taking pics of the new colours so we can get them up on our website. In the meantime, if you happen to be near Marlay Park in Dublin then pop over to us to have a look. We'd love to hear what you think of them :-)

Beanies and Neck Gaiters nearly out of stock - again! December 09 2016

We thought we had properly stocked up on beanies and neck gaiters to last until the end of the winter season, but they have proved even more popular than we ever thought and have out done our expectations again!

But don't worry, our fantastic manufacturers in New Zealand are on the case so we will be stocked up again shortly, fingers crossed before Christmas!

Keep an eye on our Facebook page, or here, for when they arrive. Or drop us an email at info@snowgrassmerino.ie if you want us to let you know directly and keep anything aside for you.

In the meantime, enjoy the build up to Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

What’s Happening This Christmas 2016? November 21 2016

Christmas 2016 is well on it’s way now! How do we know? Well, here’s just a few things we noticed here in Dublin, Ireland…

1. Halloween is a distant memory and all the decorations are back up in the attic
2. Smyths Toy Store is now open until 11pm every night
3. The Grafton Street Christmas Lights were officially turned on last Sunday
4. All the leaves are nearly off the trees
5. The Kris Kindle list of whose buying for who has been made
6. The An Post flyer of postal dates came through the letter box
7. Advent calendars are in the shops
8. Parents are starting to use that old favourite of “Santa is watching!”
9. It’s impossible to book a restaurant
10. We’ve eaten our first mince pie
11. Turkeys are getting nervous
12. It even tried to snow today! Fingers crossed for a white one…
13. And finally, Christmas Fairs are happening all over the country

Speaking of Christmas Fairs, we’ve got a few favourites that Snowgrass attends and has a stall at.

First up is the Marlay Park Craft held in the big house from Friday 18^th November to Sunday 20^th November. We won’t actually be in the big house as we’ll be in our usual spot on Sunday outside.

Next is the St Enda’s Christmas Market on Saturday 26^th November and Sunday 27^th November. The market is set in the lovely courtyard and the brilliant Rathfarnham Ukelele Group are playing on Sunday. It is such a lovely setting and perfect for an outing with the family, especially since Santa Claus will be making an appearance.

Then there is the Ballyroan Christmas Fair on Wednesday 7^th December which is always fantastic as it is held in the evening with all the Christmas lights sparkling.

And then finally Airfield are holding their first ever Christmas event. And as with everything that Airfield do we know it will be picture-perfect. The Airfield Estate Christmas Experience runs for most of the month of December and we will be there on Saturday 10^th December and Sunday 11^th December.

We hope to see you at one of these Christmas Fairs :-)

They Are Up! September 11 2016

Our fantastic new colour range of beanies and neck gaiters have just gone up on our website. We are so excited about the new colours, and are just loving the Bold Red and Burnt Orange in particular, not to mention the Vibrant Fuscia! Make sure you click into Shop Merino on our website and take a look yourself, and be sure to drop us a note on info@snowgrassmerino.ie and let us know what you think.

Roll on winter as we are dying to don these funky colours!

It's Here! New Shipment of Stock Just Arrived! July 25 2016

Yay! It is finally here! Our big order from New Zealand!

And it is full of loads of goodies - all your usual merino favourites of beanies, neck gaiters, kids tops and leggings, but also some new colours (we are loving the new Bold Red!) plus Adult's Tops too! So now you can stay cosy too with your very own Snowgrass Merino base layer.

But please bear with us as we need to get some professional pics taken before we add them to our shop. If you can't wait till then just drop us an email at info@snowgrassmerino.ie and tell us what you like and we can take a few photos ourselves to show you.

In the meantime, we will get unpacking and here's a little taster of what was inside...

Woolapalooza Farm Festival 1st & 2nd May May 01 2016

Today we were down hanging out at the wonderful Woolapalooza Farm Festival at Airfield in Dublin. It was a brilliant day with loads of people out enjoying the farm life. It truly is a fantastic place, right in the middle of the city!

If you get a chance to come down tomorrow it is well worth effort!

https://www.facebook.com/airfielddublin/

This is NOT an April Fools Day Joke! April 01 2016

SALE SALE SALE!

Now on!

For the month of April Only!

Sold Out Again - The Beanies have been too popular! February 23 2016

Well, that huge order of beanies we got at the beginning of winter has been so popular that we have completely run out of all the X Large beanies and most of the Large ones as well!

Also we are very low on Neck Gaiters and only have Lipstick Pink left! Not a great option for the boys and men in your life who don't fancy pink ;-)

Dear oh Dear!

But we are not panicking and we are going to calmly wait for the new colour palette to arrive from the fabric manufacturer and pick a few new groovey colours - as well as stick with your favourites of course!

So please be patient and we will be doubling our order so next winter we have plenty of beanies to go around for everyone :-)

Snowgrass Merino - The Perfect Base Layer For Skiing January 14 2016

Well, Christmas is over and in the homeland of the Merino – New Zealand – everyone is at the beach. In the Northern Hemisphere, however, its time for that favourite pastime of Skiing! Thank goodness there is something to look forward to after Christmas!

When I look over our Snowgrass range, I think we must have had skiing in the back of our minds when we were designing them as they are the perfect base layer for a budding young skier.

The Long Sleeved Tops are so luxuriously soft to be worn right next to the skin to give instant and constant warmth, without adding too much bulk. They are a good length to be able to be tucked right in, and then throw on another slightly thicker merino layer or two over top, plus their ski jacket, and your little one is sorted on top.

The Leggings, again luxuriously soft and lightweight, are slim fitting to fit right into any ski boot, and ski socks can be pulled up over them to lock all that warmth in, thus making them an ideal legging for under ski trousers.

And then for the head - the Snowgrass beanies are of the same lightweight fabric as the Tops and Leggings and therefore very slim fitting and fit nicely under a ski helmet. Thanks to expanding our beanie range we now have X Large for the big kids, so adults can now avail of these fantastic beanies as well. They are wonderfully complemented with a neck gaiter which are snug enough to sit nicely around the neck and long enough to go ninja style and pull up over the face on those real wind-chilled days. And on those amazing sun filled days on top of the mountain the beanie and neck gaiter ideally scrunch up to nothing and can be stuffed into a pocket without being in the way.

All of these base layer items are made from 100% New Zealand merino wool. They are specifically made from the lighter weighted fabric available (185gsm) to ensure they are the ultimate in softness and can be worn right next to the skin, without compromising on warmth. The light weight also means that if the clothes need to be washed overnight they will be dry again by the next morning ready for another day on the slopes. But also remember merino wool does not get smelly so chances are you’ll get your whole ski holiday out of them without even thinking about the washing machine! Also a plus if you are short of space in your suitcase as each child only needs 1 set of base layers. And if you are really short of space then the Long Sleeved Top and Leggings can double up as pyjamas – how’s that for economical packing!

Well, enough about base layers, go and enjoy and have fun on the slopes this season, there is nothing like being out in the open on top of a snow covered mountain ready with the thrill of skiing down :-)

Last Few Days for Orders! December 21 2015

If you are in Ireland then there is still time for some last minute shopping! Order today or tomorrow and hopefully if An Post are as efficient as they normally are then your order should arrive on Christmas Eve.

There is still time, but only just!

Christmas Gift Ideas 2015 December 09 2015

First of all may I wish you a very Merry Christmas! I hope the panic hasn’t set in yet when you are scrabbling around doing a bit of last minute shopping. There are still a few days to go… just!

If you are stuck on a few certain members of the family then here are a few ideas from the Snowgrass range to get you started. Although our range is not exactly huge, I have discovered that there are so many uses for some of our items.

For starters, the Snowgrass range was originally designed with children in mind, but adults (including myself) have just fallen in love with the neck gaiters and the beanies too! I haven’t taken my Lipstick Pink Neck Gaiter off since winter started. It is so perfectly warm and not bulky that I forget that I am wearing it when I come in from the cold. Customers ranging from the littlies to grannies, and from the likes of little bikers to big cyclists, and walkers and hikers have bought them and loved them.

The beanies, as well, have proven hugely popular with adults too. We now have X Large beanies available for those that find the Large just a little too snug. They are the perfect gift for a runner as merino wool regulates your heat, and they scrunch down to very little so can easily be stuffed in a pocket while you are out pounding the footpaths.

Also, they are ideal for any cyclist, big or small, as they fit nicely under a helmet. And not just bike helmets either, they are great under a ski helmet or motorbike helmet or any helmet you can think of, even a builders hard hat!

The beanies are all flat seamed too so they do not irritate the head and are therefore ideal for an elderly parent or grandparent, or even someone who has ill health as there is nothing like falling asleep with a nice warm beanie on and not being irritated by it.

So if the person you are buying for is a runner, cyclist, motor biker, walker, hillwalker, hiker, skier, has an outdoor occupation, or generally just loves being outdoors (like we do!) or just needs a little bit more warmth to make them comfortable then a beanie or a neck gaiter is a great and original gift for them.

So that’s a few ideas for the big kids in your lives, and we haven’t even covered the little guys yet.

To give the child in your life - whether that be your own child, grandchild, niece, nephew or godchild - a gift of a long sleeved Snowgrass Top shows you really care for them. It gives me great comfort knowing that my 3 boys are wearing a Snowgrass Merino wool top right next to their skin every single day. So when they are out in the yard at school, or out kicking a football in the back garden or on their bikes or hiking up a hill, they have that layer of warmth to keep them snug. It also means they don’t have to bulk up to go outside as well, and we all know how much kids hate wearing bulky things!

Match a long sleeved top off with a pair of leggings and not only do you have a full base layer for skiing but also a fabulous pyjama combination as well for those extra chilly nights.

And of course, the beanies and neck gaiters were originally designed with children in mind. They are lightweight, warm and comfy – what else could you ask for!

I hope I have given you a few original ideas to help you out on your Christmas shopping.

Myself and all the team here at Snowgrass wish you a very Happy Christmas to you and your family. It is a wonderful and special time of the year so enjoy it :-)

Merry Christmas,

Helen xx

Winter is upon us so let's celebrate Merino Wool! November 03 2015

With winter bearing down on us it is the perfect time to have another look at the amazing qualities of merino wool fabric and why it is the ideal clothing to wear during the changeable autumnal season and the oncoming cold winter season.

Firstly, the science behind it all…

Everyone knows that wool is fabulous at keeping you warm. This is due to two main reasons:

1. Wool has little air pockets that trap air. These air pockets act as a barrier between your skin and the outside air, and therefore prevent loss of body heat to the outside air as well. Think of it as double glazing for your skin!
2. Wool is also a bad heat conductor (see, sometimes its good to be bad!) so it will not rob you of your warmth.

To really get the best benefits from wool it should be worn right next to the skin. But we all know too well that wool can also be itchy and scratchy and not exactly comfortable. Now, those types of wools are really meant for carpets, rugs and insulation as their fibres are thick and hairy. What we need is something soft and light and that’s when we say hello to the King of Sheep – the Merino!

The merino wool fibres are the finest of all the sheep. This is because these guys hang out way up high in the Southern Alps of New Zealand, and need something super warm and comfortable to get them through the winter months. The super-fineness of their wool means less draughts and holes for the cold to set in. Their wool is also soft, light and very white, and could be mistaken for cotton wool in its raw form! In fact, a good comparison is the down feather - think how light and soft that is, and how beautifully warm as well! Merino wool is also strong, flexible and doesn’t shrink (quite handy for a merino sheep in the middle of a snow storm!).

Now take all of these amazing qualities of merino wool and turn it into a fabric and this makes for a fantastic product as you can have all the benefits of traditional wool, plus more, and then wear it right next to your skin. And you don’t have to worry about it losing shape or shrinking, and as it is light, not heavy like traditional wool, it dries quickly and can be thrown in the washing machine along with the rest of your washing. No agonising hand washing or special wool cycle required for this lot as merino wool clothing is designed to keep Mum’s happy!

And don’t forget the feel good factor as merino wool clothing is the ultimate in eco-friendliness due to being 100% natural and also bio-degradable. So you can wear your Snowgrass Merino clothing with pride and know that not only is it keeping you toasty warm but you are looking after our very important environment as well.

Take a Bow Mr Merino!

Lapis Blue Beanies and Blue Night Beanies - Out Of Stock! October 12 2015

Thanks to a huge demand in the last 2 weeks for Lapis Blue beanies and Blue Night beanies we now find ourselves out of stock! But not for long, as our manufacturers in Hasting, New Zealand are busy putting together an order and it will be on its way to us here in Ireland shortly.

So, if you are looking for one of these beanies then please drop us a line on info@snowgrassmerino.ie and we can let you know when they are back in stock and even put one aside for you.

Thanks for waiting :-)

Free Shipping and Now Free Returns! June 18 2015

We are absolutely delighted to be able to offer you, not only free shipping, but now free returns! Through PayPal it is now possible for you to claim your postage back from them when returning any items. You make the claim directly from PayPal. And this is available from any online shop, not just Snowgrass, that you make a purchase from using PayPal.

So now you can shop to your hearts content knowing that you can return anything for free!

Thanks PayPal!

see the following link for further details:

https://www.paypal.com/ie/webapps/mpp/refunded-returns/general-conditions/

Meet The Founder of Snowgrass May 22 2015

Hi!

My name is Helen Thornton and lovely to see you visiting Snowgrass Merino's website, you are very welcome and please let me know if I can be of any help at any time.

So, yes, I am delighted to say that I am the founder of Snowgrass Merino Clothing. Snowgrass is centred around three main values – Our Kids, The Great Outdoors and New Zealand. And those three things pretty much sum me up as well! I am a New Zealander, I have 3 young, noisy boys and I have a huge love of the outdoors and being out and amongst the elements.

Now, although I am a proud Kiwi, for the last 15 years my home has been Dublin in Ireland, and unfortunately merino clothing is not so readily available here in Ireland as it is in New Zealand. So every time we headed downunder to see my family and friends we came back with bags full of merino clothing for ourselves and our 3 boys. And the merino clothing has been a godsend through the cold Irish winter months and the very changeable spring and autumn seasons.

So after the birth of my (very cute) 3^rd little man, heading to the office to be an IT developer didn’t appeal so much and I knew it was the right time to try something new. And I wanted that “new” thing to be something to do with New Zealand as I very much want to keep a strong connection with my native country.

I grew up on a farm, and a sheep farm at that, and so my roots are very firmly in the agriculture and rural sector (even after 20 years of working and living in the city!), and as I am very passionate about the beautiful New Zealand merino wool it became fairly obvious that starting my own business utilising that amazing fabric was the way to go. Now, I wasn’t really expecting to design my own clothes and have my own brand initially. I looked at existing brands but they didn’t quite fit with what I wanted to do. So on one of my trips to New Zealand I called in to see a local manufacturer in a town called Hastings in Hawkes Bay and with their amazing help I came up with my first clothing range! My aim was to keep the range simple and in line with what merino wool is best at – keeping you warm! And central to the range is the fact that the clothes are manufactured in New Zealand and made specifically from New Zealand merino fabric as it is important to me and my customers that the clothes are a genuine New Zealand product. I even sourced the labels from New Zealand!

And thus, Snowgrass Merino Clothing was born and although I am a long way from my home farm in the Tararua region of New Zealand I feel very excited about this Irish New Zealand venture that I have embarked on. My connection with New Zealand is very much alive and is now on a much higher level as, not only am I showcasing one of the best products to come out of New Zealand, I am also contributing to my home country’s economy. And my adopted country, Ireland, is benefiting as well as I have made a concerted effort to source all other items (eg. packaging, hang tags, stickers etc) from small Irish businesses, and of course, Snowgrass is a small Irish business itself.

So there you go, a short history on myself and how Snowgrass came about. I must say, it has been a really exciting first 6 months and it’s great to finally bring the benefits of merino fabric to Irish families. I look forward to the many months ahead and if there is anything I can help you with then please drop me a line at info@snowgrassmerino.ie

Helen :-)

End Of Season Sale - Get In Quick! March 31 2015

Yay! We are all stocked up again! March 18 2015

The panic is off as our shipment from New Zealand has arrived!

And along with it, the much-in-demand Lapis Blue Beanies and Neck Gaiters.

Thank goodness...

Uh Oh! Due to huge demand we are getting low on stock! March 09 2015

But don't panic, more clothes are already on their way from New Zealand and are due to arrive early next week. So if there is something that you are looking for and it is out of stock then please leave us a comment or drop us an email at info@snowgrassmerino.ie and we can let you know when it is back in stock, and we can hold it for you if you like.

Wow! We were featured on TV3's Xpose! March 04 2015

We are still buzzing after featuring on TV3's very own successful fashion show - Xpose!

And what an experience it was! Big thanks to the team at Xpose and to our lovely models and to Killiney Castle for providing the fab location!

Check it out here:

http://www.tv3.ie/entertainment_video.php?locID=1.803.824&video=90795

Spring is here! February 28 2015

Spring is here, finally! But sometimes the weather has different ideas and throws in a few days just to remind us that we aren't out of the woods yet!

This is when merino clothing is just fabulous because on those warm Spring days it won't overheat and on those more winter-like days it will keep you warm - magic really!

Thank you King Merino Sheep!