Luxury Wool Fibers

I think it is safe to say that everyone has heard the word “wool” before. And most people picture fluffy white sheep, grazing in green pastures when you speak of it.

But wool fibers actually can come from many animals, and some are more desirable than others. You can find anything from silky and soft ones perfect for clothing to strong and coats wools for rugs. Wool fiber is measured in microns: smaller micron numbers mean softer and finer wool.

Wool is a practical fibre and embodies many diverse attributes, being a natural thermo regulator due to its complex structure.

The animals that provide some of our most valued and luxurious raw materials inhabit a diverse range of climates. Each of the animals shown on this infographic grow beautiful coats which embody complex and unique properties: these have evolved in response to the climatic challenges presented by different geographical locations Harvesting the fibers of most of these animals in the wild necessitates a level of respect for the animal, otherwise poor handling and shock will result in inferior hair growth. The rarity of many of these animals ensures their ongoing status as luxury fibers. However, recent years have seen the market flooded with lower grade Chinese cashmere products at budget prices.

If you are interested in learning more about what wool actually is, it’s sources, qualities and so much more, you might want to check out my eBook “Understand Needle Felting“.

Resources

During my research I have used the following websites as references:

http://sff.arts.ac.uk/Fibre%20Origins/animalmap(woolli.html

www.vossberg.de