HERDER
HERDER
100% South African Merino wool athleisure — performance fabric grown by sheep, not refined from oil. Engineered for trails, training and everyday wear.
Herder exists to bring back natural, ethical clothing to South Africa — the kind your grandfather wore, made for the way you live today.
We work directly with local Merino farms and South African mills to craft garments from a single, honest fibre. No polyester. No chemical washing. No shortcuts.
Every off-cut and surplus is turned into toys, blankets and clothing for those who need it most. Nothing is wasted; everything serves.
Trail, training, transit. Merino regulates your temperature, fights odour and wears for days — so one shirt does the work of three.
Long-sleeve base layer
Performance tank
Merino cycling jersey
Most "performance" clothing is plastic. It's cheap to produce, but it costs the planet, your skin, and the people who make it. Here's how Merino compares on what matters when you're moving.
| Property | Merino | Polyester |
|---|---|---|
| Antimicrobial & odour-free | Yes — wear for days | Holds odour after one wear |
| Moisture wicking | Absorbs 30% of weight dry-feel | Clammy when saturated |
| Temperature regulating | Cool in heat, warm in cold | Insulates poorly |
| Sheds microplastics | No — pure protein fibre | Yes — every wash |
| Biodegradable | Months in soil | 200+ years in landfill |
| UV protection | Naturally blocks UV | Minimal unless treated |
| Renewable | Grows back yearly | Petroleum-derived |
| Skin-friendly | Hypoallergenic | Often irritating |
Wool isn't just a better fibre — well-managed grazing actively heals the land. Where sheep don't graze, soil compacts, dries out and erodes. Where they do, root systems strengthen and the Karoo veld stays alive.
Sourced direct from South African Merino farms — supporting families who've stewarded this land for generations.
Spun and processed in South Africa. No shipping fleeces around the world before they become a garment.
Cleaned the way it should be — water, gentle agents, and care. We protect the fibre, not the spreadsheet.
No chlorine or resin treatments that strip Merino's natural properties. The fibre stays alive in your wardrobe.
A foundational wool wardrobe for movement and everyday wear. Designed for hikers, runners, parents, cyclists, padel players, farmers — anyone who values comfort that lasts.
For people who care what touches their skin. For athletes tired of plastic on sweaty days. For parents who want their kids in fibres that came from somewhere real. For hikers, cyclists, farmers and everyday movers who believe their clothes should work as hard as they do.
Most of all, Herder is for people who want their wardrobe to match their values — natural, local, honestly made, and gentle on the body, the land, and the people who made it.
— Founded in Cape Town, South Africa.
We'd love to hear from you. Whether you're interested in stocking Herder, working with us on the supply side, joining the journey as a customer, or simply want to know more — drop us a line.