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While ordering bath towels from Atelier Particulier, I noticed they had Merino wool beanies on sale for 20 euros. I bought two since JB and I only had one each, and when the beanie is in the wash, walking around with bare heads at -2°C isn’t cool. I got a blue one for him and a camel one for myself. Here’s my review of their beanie.
I discovered Atelier Particulier while searching for a podcast and I’m glad I listened to it, as I believe its founders don’t do many interviews or podcasts. Atelier Particulier is a young brand that started with Ulule campaigns before launching their own website. Their concept: find the best suppliers, workshops, and craftsmen to create basic products (clothing, accessories, home goods) of high quality at accessible prices. They are very transparent about the workshops they work with and why they chose them.
The beanie is 100% Merino wool (19.5 microns), from the Italian company Tollegno. Label RWS (Responsible Wool Standard). I’m not exactly sure where the sheep are from (Italy, South Africa, New Zealand?). In any case, Tollegno’s website shows all their quality certifications. At 19.5 microns, it’s the perfect balance, offering an ideal compromise between softness and durability. This Merino wool quality provides an excellent price-to-quality ratio. It allows for creating comfortable clothing while guaranteeing satisfactory durability. However, Atelier Particulier calls it “extra-fine”, which I would reserve for fibers between 15.5 and 19 microns (which is closer to cashmere). The beanie was knitted in a workshop in Bulgaria.
If I trust my eyes, it’s a 4-thread weave, which gives the beanie a certain thickness.
When I read the label, I thought they had mistakenly used a sweater label, but no, a postcard accompanies the beanies, explaining the details.
Hahahah, it makes me laugh because the finishes are not those of a sweater. Look closely, the interior finishes are an overlock stitch (photo on the left), and not sewn and flattened like my cashmere beanie (photo on the right). Result: the interior seams can be felt and might slightly irritate.
I like brands offering quality products, but here there’s a bit too much enthusiasm and little humility.
Comparing their 19.5 microns to grade B cashmere, and their beanie to a sweater… Please! The touch is extremely soft and pleasant for Merino, the wool doesn’t scratch at all, but still. Merino wool is definitely not cashmere. In short, the beanie is excellent, the feel is pleasant, and it protects well from the cold. I would have left an excellent rating for this beanie, especially for its quality/price ratio (20 euros), if the marketing arguments weren’t so enthusiastic and slightly exaggerated.
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