cac0fae8c8f092b7d7e32f10d5d4e9c220d2969b My Health Is My Life: What Mohair Locks Are Used For

What Mohair Locks Are Used For

By George Jones


Mohair is a type of fiber that is produced by a special breed of goat referred to as the Angora goat. It is important not to confuse Angora goats with Angora rabbits, which produce Angora wool. Mohair locks are at times referred to by the name The Diamond Fiber. This name comes from the luxury category that it belongs. Many people hold it in high esteem and it is highly sought by many.

Mohair fiber falls under animal fibers and is categorized as among the earliest fibers to be used by man. The label mohair is a derivative of Mukhayar, Makhayar or Mukhaya, an Arabic word. The phrase Angora goat originated from Ankara or Angora, which is a province in Turkey.

The root of Angora goats is the Asian Himalayas or Highlands of Tibet. The goat then spread to the Middle East parts and the Turkish plains. The industry of mohair was realized in Turkey. Consequentially, Turkey became the fast nation to distribute the fiber in the form of raw material. Later on, South Africa turned became the earliest receiver of goats shipped from Turkey.

There is a lot of uniqueness in angora goats that is uncharacteristic in other goat breeds. Although Angora goats have one coat, fibers arising from secondary and primary follicles are the same. Unlike other goat breeds, Angora goats do not shed fibers on an annual basis. On the contrary, the fiber grows unceasingly all through the year. Generally, the fiber is straight and long.

Naturally, the fiber is usually white in color. Moisture management, setting, comfort, abrasion resistance strength, outstanding luster, smoothness, soil shedding, resilience, soiling resistance, and durability are some of the characteristics of this fiber. This fiber does not experience felting and peeling commonly and its flammability is also relatively low. Even though it is long-lasting, when placed in the soil, it usually goes through biodegradation.

The applications of this material are almost endless. Some of the notable applications it can be put to include making of blankets, upholstery, knitwear, suitings, carpets, curtains, and furnishings. It is very suitable for producing household textiles because of its resilience and durability. However, because it is relatively course, its application in making certain apparels is limited. Its coarseness makes it unsuitable for making close-to-the-skin clothing.

At the moment, the largest producer of mohair fiber is South Africa. South Africa accounts for more than 50 percent of the global production of this product. Fiber produced in this country is the finest and is regarded as the best quality all over the world. The second largest producer is the United States. In the US, the state of Texas is the largest producer. Other producers include Turkey, Lesotho, Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina.

Normally, fiber is categorized with respect to how old the animal from which it was harvested. The fiber obtained from goats ranging from six to twelve months of age is normally called kids fiber. Young goat fiber is obtained from goats of 12 to 24 months of age. In conclusion, goats that have an age that exceeds 24 months yield adult fiber.




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