Every SAANA cap in this collection is a possum merino beanie knitted from a single, unusual yarn: 53% merino wool, 40% brushtail possum fibre and 7% silk. It is knitted in New Zealand, the country the possum fibre comes from. The shape is deliberately plain — a double-layer flat knit in one unisex size, elastic enough to fit most of a family, worn folded for a shorter profile or pulled down full length when the wind picks up.
The blend is why it works. Merino makes up most of the yarn and handles moisture: it breathes and moves damp away from the skin, so your head stays warm instead of clammy under a hood. Possum fibre is hollow in the middle, so it traps air — the knit insulates like something much heavier while weighing up to 30% less than a comparable wool knit. Silk finishes the combination, adding smoothness, strength and breathability, and it is part of the reason the fabric barely pills even after years of wear.
Both fibres have an argument behind them. The merino is mulesing-free. The possum fibre is a by-product of pest control: roughly 60 million brushtail possums live in New Zealand with no natural predators, and they are a genuine threat to native biodiversity. Colours cover the wardrobe staples — Black, Charcoal Grey, Shale Grey, Coffee, Kauri and Tobago — alongside Petrol, Jungle, Blue, Neptune, Bahama, Port, Avoka, Twilight and Rosay.
- 53% merino wool, 40% possum fibre, 7% silk; knitted in New Zealand
- Double-layer flat knit — wear it folded or unfolded
- One unisex size, elastic enough for the whole family
- Mulesing-free merino; possum fibre from invasive-species control
- Washable in cool water on a gentle wool programme, dried flat
If a beanie leaves your ears wanting more, the collection also holds the KUURA earmuffs: real sheepskin, a by-product of the food industry, on an adjustable German-made metal band. They are made by hand in Hungary, come in black or natural, and carry no visible logo — quiet, working warmth.
The same yarn runs through the rest of our merino possum knitwear. Add a pair of mittens or winter leather gloves for the same weather, and keep the knit looking new with our care products.
