Saturday, November 3, 2018

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 is grouped under a special category of animal fibers and it is categorized among the oldest fibers man knows. The origin of the term mohair is from the Arabic word of Mukhayar, Mukhaya, or Makhayar. Usually, the Angora goat has a single coat and its name originates from the province of Ankara which is also called Angora, Turkey.

The Angora goat originated from the Tibet Highlands or the Asian Himalayas. From the mountains, it spread to the Turkey plains and most areas in the Middle East. The industry of mohair was born in Turkey and it became the first nation to supply mohair as a raw material. Later, South Africa became the first country to receive Angora goats that were 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.

Usually, this fiber is grouped according to the age of the goat it was harvested from. The fiber is called kids fiber if harvested from an animal whose age is between 6 to 12 months. The name you goat fiber is used if the animal is between the age of 12 and 24 months. Finally, the fiber is called adult fiber if the animal is over 24 months of age.




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