Icebreaker
WE BELIEVE THERE IS A BETTER WAY.
AND NATURE HAS THE ANSWERS.
Our purpose is to offer our customers a natural alternative to synthetics and to lead the outdoor industry towards sustainable solutions. It’s why we exist.
A HISTORY DEFINED BY BREAKTHROUGHS, ACTIONS AND CHALLENGING THE NORMS WITH ALTERNATIVE PERSPECTIVES.
1995 WILD PIONEERS - Icebreaker was created by a 24-year-old Jeremy Moon. His aim was to provide garments for outdoor adventures with less reliance on petrochemical fibers, providing a more sustainable future for us - and the planet. But back then, synthetics were king, so convincing people was going to be far from easy...
1996 WORLD’S FIRST NATURAL LAYERING SYSTEM - The world’s first natural layering system is officially born. Merino’s excellent warmth to weight ratio and low bulk inspires our first two weight layering system.
1997 BUILDING LASTING RELATIONSHIPS - We are the first company in the world to establish long-term contracts with key merino wool growers, based on genuine trust and a mutual concern for animal welfare and the environment.
2006 THE ART OF NATURE - We are the first company in the world to print graphics onto merino wool. In the same year we establish Icebreaker USA.
2008 CHANGING BEHAVIORS - Leading the industry we are the first company to ban the mulesing of sheep. This policy has now been widely adopted by the industry to champion animal welfare.
2010 TRANSPARENT & PROUD - We drive a transparent sourcing campaign and are the first company to introduce a ‘baacode’ on our garments to allow wearers to trace the lineage of their garments right back to the sheep station it comes from.
2011 INNOVATION AT THE CORE - We introduce corespun, an innovative new technology that wraps our superfine merino around a high denier nylon filament to radically increase longevity
2012 COOLER THAN COTTON - We launch COOL-LITE™ – a breakthrough blend of merino and plant based TENCEL®. Made from eucalyptus (the most ecologically sustainable natural fiber available) TENCEL® helps dump heat and wick quickly, while delivering outstanding breathability.
2013 PIONEERING A NATURAL ALTERNATIVE - We develop a natural, ‘non-duck killing’ alternative to ‘down’. Made from merino fibers, MerinoLOFT™ was our pioneering solution - a highly breathable insulating interior that regulates temperature to deliver weightless warmth, naturally.