Facts About The Uses Of Mohair Locks

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 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.

The Angora goats exhibit a lot of uniqueness from other breeds of goats. It has a single coat, but the fibers from the primary and secondary follicles seem to have no difference at all. The breed does not shed its fibers annually like most other breeds. Instead, the fibers grow continuously throughout the year. The fiber is generally long and straight.

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.

Applications for this material are very many. These include being utilized in production of upholstery, blankets, curtains, knitwear, furnishings and carpets. The fiber is ideal for making domestic textile due to the longevity and resilience it exhibits. Nevertheless, owing to its comparative coarseness, its utilization in apparel manufacture is limited. Being coarse renders the material not suitable for close-to-the-skin clothing.

Currently, South Africa is the leading producer of mohair. South Africa is responsible for over 50 percent of all production in the world. The best fiber is produced by this country and its fiber is considered the best quality worldwide. The United States is the second leading producer. The state of Texas is the leading producer in the US. Argentina, New Zealand, Australia, Lesotho, and Turkey are the other producers.

The fiber is usually classified depending on the age of the animal from which it is harvested. If the animals are at the age of six and twelve months, the fiber is referred to as kids fiber. When the goats attain the age of between 12 and 24 months, the fiber is called young goats fiber. Lastly, beyond 24 months, it is called adult fiber.




About the Author:



0 comments:

Post a Comment

 

Holidays Copyright © 2011-2012 | Powered by Blogger