About our polos
TheMerinoPolo: An Australian Merino Story
TheMerinoPolo is an Australian apparel brand founded by Steve Noa with a simple mission: to get more people wearing modern Australian Merino wool.
Steve’s connection to wool began long before the business. Through decades as a wool buyer and trader of greasy wool into China with hands-on experience with raw fleece, wool grading and the journey from fibre to finished garment, he developed a genuine understanding of what makes Australian Merino so remarkable. Like many people, Steve had once associated wool with high end suiting and formal wear but was convinced modern merino wool was highly suitable for casual and active wear in the form of polos and t-shirts. A natural performance fibre that could be exceptionally soft, breathable, temperature-regulating and comfortable in almost any climate.
He also saw a problem. Much of the Merino clothing available was either highly technical, overly expensive or styled for a narrow outdoor market. Steve believed Australian Merino deserved a place in everyday wardrobes, and that customers should not have to pay inflated prices to enjoy it. TheMerinoPolo was created to offer premium-quality Merino apparel that felt practical, modern, flattering and accessible.
The business began with a focus on reinventing the classic polo shirt in fine Australian Merino wool. From there, the collection evolved to include polos, crew-neck and V-neck T-shirts, singlets, long-sleeved styles and versatile accessories for men and women. The brand’s appeal also expanded beyond everyday wear into travel, work, golf, equestrian activities and outdoor lifestyles, where Merino’s natural odour resistance, breathability and easy-care performance truly shine.
As TheMerinoPolo has grown, its purpose has remained the same: to combine real wool knowledge with honest value and timeless design. The brand champions clothing that can be worn more often, washed less frequently and kept for longer—an approach that supports slower, more considered fashion.
From a small direct-to-consumer idea, it has grown into a trusted online brand with a loyal customer community, a broader product range and an ambition to showcase Australian wool internationally without losing the personal service behind its beginnings.
Today, TheMerinoPolo represents Steve’s belief that one of Australia’s greatest natural fibres should be celebrated at home and around the world. It is a proudly Australian story built on expertise, comfort and a determination to make Merino relevant for modern life.
TheMerinoPolo exists due to Steve Noa's (our founder) mission to prove merino wool should be an essential consideration in the massive and consistently growing market that is tees on polos. That merino wool could infiltrate this existing market and drive the year-on-year consumption that Australian-grown merino wool so badly needs. By introducing high-quality, affordable merino polo shirts to a massive market, where approximately 400 million polos are sold annually, we aim to create a sustainable demand for wool.
To accomplish this, we prioritized the following:
1. Quality and Workmanship: Ensuring TheMerinoPolo garments are of the highest quality was paramount. Equally important was making the garments economically viable, offering businesses and sporting organizations a natural alternative to the synthetic fiber polo shirts that dominate the market.
2. Ease of Care: Our polos are 100% machine washable, making them easy to care for.
3. Durability: The polos maintain their new look for an extended period, ensuring long-lasting wear.
After extensive testing of various yarns, we selected a proven performer for our mainstay, our 'enhanced performance' polos. TheMerinoPolo is crafted from a technical yarn made of high-quality 18.5-micron superfine merino wool enhanced with a small amount of recycled nylon. This ultra-comfortable, lightweight polo shirt is part of our manufacturer's technical range.
We also now have an extensive range of 100% polos and Tees for the 'purists' produced from Australian superfine wool testing between 16.5 to 17.5 micron.
The shirts excel in mild to hot climates, weighing less than 180 grams. They feature a patented treatment that resists and defends against body odor by drawing sweat away from the body to evaporate on the outer layer of the shirt.
You won't find a more comfortable or versatile polo shirt.
Interested in exploring our complete range? View all merino clothing including our polos, t-shirts, and more.
The Process (and yes, we manufacture in China)
The merino wool used in our polos can be traced back to several Australian wool properties. The wool was purchased at auction by Endeavour Wool, where Steve is the WA buyer. It was then shipped to New Chuwa, one of China's most progressive and modern wool processors. After expert scouring and top making, the wool top was sent to Xinao, where Woolmark has a long-standing program for yarn innovation. The yarn was then sent to Diyang Merino Textiles, where Steve has had a twenty year plus friendship with the owners. This fabulous yarn is then knitted into the final, sensational garment that is The Merino Polo.
Note that we now also have an extensive range of 100% merino apparel available.
The Merino Polo.
Our wool comes from Australian land—Country that has been cared for by Aboriginal peoples for tens of thousands of years.
We recognise that the pastoral industry grew through dispossession, and that Aboriginal workers were central to station life, often under unfair control and pay systems.
We're committed to doing better today through meaningful relationships, ethical sourcing, and practical support for Indigenous-led outcomes.