What is Mohair? Fabric Guide

Learn about mohair wool’s characteristics, benefits, and uses by reading this blog.

A highly sought-after natural fiber is mohair. It is used to create everything from high-end sweaters and accessories to carpets and upholstery. Made from the coats of Angora goats, mohair is a soft, silk-like textile.

Please continue reading if you want to learn more about mohair wool.

Read More:

• 6 Best Mohair Sweaters for Men in 2023: Warm & Fashion
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What is Mohair?

Long and smooth mohair is used to make fluffy items like hats, scarves, and sweaters. Beware: The production of mohair clothing involves suffering and slaughter, as with all garments made from animal-derived materials, despite the fact that you might be familiar with the word but not how it is actually obtained.

Angora goats are used to produce mohair. Maybe you’ve heard of angora before, but if you see the word “angora” (or “angora wool”) on a clothing tag, don’t confuse that with mohair. The material that is violently extracted from rabbits is called angora wool, which is completely different.

Related: Is Mohair Wool? the Differences Between Mohair and Wool

Mohair is primarily produced in South Africa and the United States. (particularly Texas). Angora goats are raised mainly for their soft inner coats, which are typically shorn twice a year, starting as early as six months after birth. However, mohair has issues that start much earlier and last right up until the day the goats are killed.

Characteristics of Mohair

• Durability: Mohair can be bent into any shape without damaging the fibers. This is because it has the most robust structure of almost all animal fibers.
• Elasticity: Before being able to bounce back into shape, mohair can stretch an average of 30% along its entire length. Because of this quality, mohair products don’t wrinkle, stretch, or sag while being worn.
• Luster: One of its most significant qualities is its sheen. The large exterior scales of the fiber reflect light more directly, which results in luster. This luster or sheen makes dyed mohair extremely wear-resistant by assisting it in fending off fading brought on by time and other factors.
• Fineness: This is the most important feature for selecting mohair. According to the average fiber fineness, mohair is usually divided into Kid mohair, Young mohair, and Adult mohair.
• Dyeability: Mohair is easy to dye and very bright. Mohair can reportedly be dyed in hundreds of different colors.

Advantages of Using Mohair

Mohair is a popular fiber as it adds strength, warmth, and luxury to any item.

• Shiny. Mohair resembles silk in that it is very lustrous and shiny.
• Strong and resilient. Like many natural wool fibers, mohair is very strong and durable. Fun fact: Mohair is more durable than steel of comparable size.
• Does not feel. Mohair does not have scales, which are basically cuticle cells that interlock to form felt. Mohair cannot be felted because it lacks this structure.
• Dyes well. It is a great way to add color to a garment or home item because mohair fiber takes dye very well.
• Warm. Mohair is a fantastic insulator and is extremely warm while still being lightweight.
• Silk-like. Mohair naturally shines when exposed to light and has a lovely luster. Any mohair feels incredibly opulent because mohair fiber is as soft as silk.
• Good for sensitive skin. Mohair is good for people with sensitive skin, as the wool is not as itchy as standard sheep’s wool.
• Doesn’t wrinkle. Because of its fiber structure, mohair resists creasing.
• Moisture-wicking. Mohair is naturally flame-resistant and moisture-wicking, like the majority of wool.

Where Does Mohair Come From?

Mohair, one of the oldest textiles made from fiber, was created in the Tibetan mountains, where the Angora goat first flourished. The Angora goat was introduced to Turkey in the sixteenth century, in the Turkish province of Ankara where the name “angora” comes from.

The majority of angora goat farming took place in Ankara up until 1849 when a goat was given as a gift to a cotton farmer from the United States in appreciation for his assistance in helping Turkey grow cotton.

The main producers and exporters of mohair today are South Africa, Argentina, Turkey, and the United States. South Africa is also the world’s largest farmer of angora goats. state of Texas. To a lesser extent, Australia and New Zealand also produce and export mohair.

How is Mohair Produced?

Shearing, washing, carding, combing, spinning, dying, and knitting are typically the steps involved in making a mohair fabric. Figure out: Is Mohair Ethical?

1. Shearing: Angora goats are safely sheared twice a year with hand shears or electric scissors. Strict breeding guidelines and high breeding standards guarantee the highest level of fiber quality.
2. Washing: Dust and grease are eliminated after the fiber has been washed.
3. Carding: Through the drafting and combing action of the carding machine, mohair fibers are straightened and aligned to remove most of the weeds and merge into loops or strips.
4. Combing: The mohair is then given to the comber to remove any final impurities and create soft, opulent mohair.
5. Spinning: Mohair fibers are spun into yarn, which can then be further spun into various types of yarn to suit various needs.
6. Dyeing: It is possible to dye yarn either before or after weaving.
7. Knitting: Both woven fabrics and fabric for clothing can be made with mohair yarns.

Uses for Mohair Fabric

Knitwear, home décor, and even doll-making are just a few of the many uses for mohair.

1. Knitting and crochet. Because mohair’s luster and shine complement any garment or accessory, it is a beautiful and opulent knitting yarn that many knitters frequently use. Because mohair has such fine hair, it is combined with other fibers to make chunky, worsted (medium-weight) skeins, or lengths of yarn. In order to increase its strength, mohair yarn is frequently combined with silk, wool, and merino wool. Mohair is popular for knitting cold weather clothes, like sweaters, socks, hats, gloves, and scarves because mohair has the same warm properties as wool, but it is lighter-weight with an attractive sheen and wears better.
2. Home furnishings. Mohair is incorporated in several home items from upholstery fabric to carpets to drapery because it has a beautiful sheen and is a strong fiber. Learn How to Clean Mohair Upholstery.
3. Fake fur. Because of the fabric’s ability to mimic the fluffy and soft qualities of animal furs, mohair is frequently used to create fur accessories that are more animal-friendly. Keep in mind that faux fur made with mohair is not entirely fake, as mohair does come from an animal’s coat.
4. Doll wigs. Mohair is frequently used for high-end doll hair because it is shiny and soft, just like human hair.

Further Reading: How to Care for Mohair Fabric?

Conclusion: What is Mohair?

The Angora goat’s hair is used to make the soft wool known as mohair. When blended with other textiles, like alpaca or merino, mohair lends that luster to the fibers. You should hand wash and lay flat to dry all mohair items. Mohair should not be washed or dried because doing so will deteriorate the fibers.

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