At the heart of Merrick lies a mission: to elevate a fibre long deemed too coarse for fashion into something covetable, characterful, and proud. Jackie Lee, who grew up on a Galloway sheep farm, witnessed Scottish Blackface wool often go to waste, discarded or sold below shearing cost. In founding Merrick, she set out to change this. By working with British Wool to source traceable fleece from local Blackface sheep.

Merrick ensures farmers are paid a premium for their wool and customers can connect directly to the story behind their clothes. But this is more than wool sourcing, it’s place-based design. Merrick’s collections are inspired by the raw climate of the Southern Uplands: robust fisherman knits, structured cardigans, and outdoor staples, all crafted with performance and provenance in mind. Collaborating with spinners and artisans, Merrick celebrates the strength and character of its fibre, refusing to hide its origins. Instead, it wears them proudly, like the hills it comes from.

Merrick isn’t just changing perceptions of wool, it’s changing systems. As a Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Proud Supporter, the brand prioritises low-impact production, regenerative partnerships and rural skills. Each piece tells a story of stewardship: of the land, the animals, and the people. In just a few years, Merrick has gained recognition for championing a circular, transparent model of slow fashion.

More importantly, it has sparked dialogue among farmers, designers, and wearers, about the real value of locally grown fibre. Their success shows that rugged wool has a future in luxury fashion when framed with honesty and intention. As demand for traceable, authentic products grows, Merrick continues to inspire others to rethink what fashion can be. In its garments are woven not only warmth and utility, but also a belief: that our clothes can carry the climate, culture, and care of the place they came from.