Every matmat begins with a different combination of wools, selected and layered by hand in the ZÜS studio. The fibers vary between sheep breeds in length, thickness, elasticity, color, texture, and how far they shrink. The combination and the order of the layers determine the surface that emerges. No two mats come out the same, because no two are composed the same way.

The wool is shrunk by hand as far as it will go, until the mat is dense enough to sit on for hours, even on concrete or rock. Light enough to take anywhere: a park bench, a campsite, a riverbank. The natural oils coating the fibers repel water and dirt, so they work as well outside as they do at home.

Wool fibers are hollow. They absorb moisture instead of holding it on the surface, which makes the mats comfortable year-round: warm in winter, dry through the rainy season, breathable in summer.