Mulesing-free merino wool in baby clothes – safe for both children and animals
Merino wool is more popular than ever. Even major chains have now included merino wool baby clothes in their collections. At first glance, this seems like good news: more parents are discovering the benefits of this special material. But there's a downside. Where does the wool come from? And under what conditions was it produced?
At Moalie, we believe that as a parent, you have the right to transparency. After all, you're not just choosing a fabric; you're choosing something your child will wear every day and that you want to feel confident in. That's why we only use mulesing-free merino wool .
What is mulesing anyway?
Mulesing is a painful procedure primarily used in Australia on merino sheep. It involves cutting away the skin around the sheep's tail without anesthesia to prevent fly infections. The idea is to protect the animal, but in reality, mulesing causes significant pain, stress, and scarring.
Although alternatives now exist – such as breeding sheep that naturally have fewer skin folds – the Australian wool industry still largely opts for mulesing.
The broken promise of the wool industry
In 2004, the Australian wool industry promised to phase out mulesing by 2010. That promise was never fulfilled. Since then, an estimated 140 million lambs have been subjected to this procedure.
Today, Australia remains the only country in the world where mulesing is standard practice, while other wool-producing countries such as New Zealand, Argentina, Norway and South Africa have already completely eliminated mulesing.
Only 15% of Australian merino wool is officially non-mulesed. This means there's a good chance that merino wool in cheap baby clothes comes from mulesed sheep – even if it's not stated anywhere.
A gap between consumer and reality
Research shows that 73% of consumers will no longer buy wool once they learn about mulesing. Yet, the majority of merino wool worldwide still comes from mulesed sheep.
This creates a divide: parents think they are making a conscious choice by choosing merino wool, but rarely receive a guarantee that the wool has truly been produced in an animal-friendly manner.
That's precisely why Moalie is an exception. We're among the small percentage of brands that work exclusively with mulesing-free wool and communicate this transparently.
Care for baby, animal and person
For us, luxury goes beyond a beautiful product. Luxury means care and attention in every step:
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For your baby : soft, breathable merino wool that doesn't itch and keeps your little one warm without suffocating.
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For the animal : a life without painful interventions, with respect for natural needs.
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For the makers : fair working conditions and controlled production processes.
Only when all links in this chain are correct can we proudly hang our label on a product.
Our certificates: proof of quality and honesty
Transparency doesn't just mean saying we use mulesing-free wool, but also being able to substantiate this claim. That's why we work exclusively with certified suppliers. Our wool and production methods comply with international quality marks that give you peace of mind as a parent:
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GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) – guarantees the organic origin of the wool and strict social criteria for production.
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OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 – tests every part of the product for harmful substances, so your baby only wears the safest material.
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Certified Organic Animal Husbandry (kbT) – guarantees that the wool comes from animals that are kept without mulesing and cared for with respect.
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BSCI audit – guarantees fair and safe working conditions for the people who make our clothes.
These certificates are not marketing for us, but a promise: your child will only wear clothing made with care, respect and safety – from sheep to sewing machine.
Our promise
When you choose Moalie, you're choosing more than just clothing. You're choosing a story that centers around your child, but also includes the animals and people behind the product.
Merino wool may be popular, but the question isn't whether it is wool, but which wool.
At Moalie this is always: mulesing-free, animal-friendly and fairly produced .
✨ Want to learn more about our wool and certifications? Visit our Why Merino Wool page. or discover our Merino collection directly .