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angora goats, history of mohair, Mohair, mohair fabric, mohair manufacturers, mohair wool, opuzen, production of mohair, rogers and goffigan, san carlo mohair, schumacher, upholstery fabric
UMMMMM, well maybe not this cozy. (Sorry couldn’t help myself when I found this image.) But it is beginning to feel a bit chillier around here. I just saw my neighbors oak tree begin to flash its first leaves of red and orange, a sure sign that fall is just around the corner.
I am also beginning to see all of the big box stores putting out their fall colored accessories and Halloween decorations. Already? it seemed like summer would go on forever in Seattle this year. Amazing, endless days of sunshine and we Seattleites soaked up every gorgeous ray we could get.
However sweater weather is upon us and honestly fall is my favorite season. So many gorgeous colors, and the fall morning mist is something I look forward to every year.
With the fall upon us I thought I would put out a post on Mohair since it is one of the coziest fabrics I can think of and is definitely a favorite of mine whether being used in a really great sweater,
or on a sofa.
Mohair comes from the wool of Angora goats.
Both durable and resilient, mohair is notable for its high luster and sheen, which has helped give it the nickname the “Diamond Fiber”, and can be used in fiber blends to add these qualities to a textile. I have samples on my desk right now and most of them show this fabric to withstand 40-100 thousand double rubs, tough stuff. (Double rubs are a fabric test that determines how long a fabric can stand being abraded before it falls apart)
Mohair takes dye exceptionally well which is one of the reasons I love it so much. The colors you can get in Mohair are like no other fabric.
Mohair is warm in winter as it has great insulating properties, while remaining cool in summer due to its moisture wicking properties. It is naturally elastic, flame resistant, crease resistant, and does not felt. It is considered to be a luxury fiber, like cashmere, angora and silk, and is usually more expensive than most wool that comes from sheep but it will last nearly forever if treated properly.
Mohair is shorn from the goat without harming the animal. Shearing is done twice a year, in the spring and in the fall. One goat will produce 11 to 17 pounds (5–8 kg) of mohair a year. South Africa is the largest mohair producer in the world, with the majority of South African mohair being produced in the Eastern Cape. The United States is the second-largest producer, with the majority of American mohair being produced in Texas.
Mohair is also one of the oldest textile fibers in use. The Angora goat is thought to originate from the mountains of Tibet, reaching Turkey in the 16th century. However, fabric made of mohair was known in England as early as the 8th century. To get really technical on you….. The word “mohair” was adopted into English sometime before 1570 from the Arabic: مخير mukhayyar. (thanks Wikipedia)
Opuzen as seen above makes some really lovely mohairs.
I also really love the colors that Rogers and Goffigan offer in their mohairs seen above.
Schumacher has a line called San Carlo that I also really like.
All gorgeous stuff really. Can’t wait to specify some on my next project because of its beauty and durability. Hopefully we might have a yard or so left over that my client will pass on to me to use on some cozy pillows for those chilly fall days ahead.
Images courtesy of http://lolannonces.fr/blog/2012/11/03/les-plus-beaux-bibendums-en-mohair/laine-mohair/, http://digital-art-gallery.com/photo/914, http://www.countingstonesheep.tumblr.com/post/17756302865, http://www.//be0k.tumblr.com/post/80549909704, http://www.nikisawyer.com/sheep/sheep_image_3741.htm, http://www.//kansasfiberfarm.blogspot.com/p/mohair-for-sale.html, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ANGORA_GOATS_GRAZE_ON_A_FARM, http://www.opuzen.com, http://www.delanyandlong.com, http://www.fschumacher.com
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