Natural Hair Fiber | Others Protein Fiber Like Wool & Silk | Fur Fiber

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Available protein fibers are commonly known as wool as well as silk where some others protein fiber containing same characteristics are being cultivated as very limited portion in the world. Hair or fur of different animals are the source of these protein fiber. The prime component contains these fibers is protein named as keratin. Most  of the hair fibers contain similar physical and chemical properties same as to wool which are used to blend with other fibers. The average length of hair fiber is 41 cm or 16 inch where a single fiber may have been 91 cm or 36 inch.

Alpaca Hair Fiber

South American camel like animal Alpacas are mainly found in Andes Mountains. They are also seen in North America, Australia and New Zealand. About 120000 families of Peru, Bolivia and Chile are living through Alpacas Cultivation. An Alpaca produces about 3 kg of fiber.

Properties of Alpaca Fiber

• Fiber is partly hollow, from 20 to 70 microns in diameter.
• It comes in 22 natural variety of colors.
• Extremely fine with little guard hair.
• Compatible with either the woolen or worsted systems.
• Contain excellent insulation or thermal qualities.
• Warmer than merino wool.
• More abrasion resistant  as well as higher tensile strength than wool
• Odorless with no grease, oil and lanolin.
• Does not retain water and can resist solar radiation.
• Carding as well as blending with cotton and synthetic fibers is possible.
• Easily dyeable.

End Uses:

• Shawls
• Rugs
• Sweater
• Socks
• Jacket
• Stoles

Angora Rabbit Fiber

The angora rabbit is mainly found in  France, Italy and Japan as well as China, Chile and USA. It is a variety of the old world domestic rabbit with special characteristics, the active phase of hair growth is double that of normal rabbits. Since China is raised in Angora rabbits cultivation where angora farms count more than 50 million rabbits. Other angora producers are Argentina, Chile, Czech Republic and Hungary.

Properties of Angora:

• Hair is silky with white colors.
• It is a hollow fiber classed as wool with 14-16 microns diameter.
• Very soft in touch
• Water absorbency is well.
• Easily dyeable

End Uses:

• Overcoat
• Sweaters
• Suitings
• Baby Cloths
• Knitted cloths
• Pullovers
• Socks and gloves

Mohair Hair
Mohair is a protein fiber taken from Angora Goat. Angora goat is thought to have originated in Tibet.Turkey was the center of mohair textile production before the goat was introduced. Now a days South Africa and USA are the largest Mohair yarn/fabric producers, with the majority of American mohair being produced in Texas. Mainly three successive steps would have passed as shearing, scouring and dehaired to produce mohair fiber.Angora goats give 3 to 5 kgs mohair fiber in a year.

Properties of Mohair Fiber:

• Contain protein called keratin like as wool fiber.
• It's diameter ranges from 23 to 38 microns in older animal.
• Resilient Dust repellant
• Light reflected from the surface gives mohair a characteristic lustre
• Absorbent Lustrous and silky
• Anti wrinkle and flame resistant
• Moth and mildew proof Warmth.

End Uses:

• Knitted cloths
• Rugs and carpets
• Jackets and Coats
• Blankets
• Sweaters
• Home furnishings
• Doll
•  

Cashmere Fiber
Himalayas goat Kashmir is the main source of cashmere fiber.Its fine undercoat hair is collected by either combing or shearing during the spring moulting season. Cashmere or Kashmiri hair are extremely warm to protect goats from cold mountain temp.Fibers are highly adaptable and are easily constructed into fine or thick yarns, and light to heavy-weight fabrics. Appropriate for all climates. A high moisture content allows insulation properties to change with the relative humidity in the air.Now China is the leading cashmere fiber producer around the world while Mongolia produces the finest fiber. A Kashmir goat gives 150 grams fiber is a year.

Properties of Cashmere:

• Contains natural crimp allowing it to be spun into fine yarn as well as fabrics.
• Smooth and lustrous fiber.
• Warmer and fiber as compared to normal wool fiber.
• Less durable than wool.

End Uses:

• Shawls
• Rugs
• Scarves
• Sweaters
• Cardigan
• Jackets
• Coats
• Socks
• Gloves
• Blazers
• Underwear

(Pashmia is a type if cashmere used to produce shawls and scarves)

Camel Hair
Camel is the Eastern and Central Asian animal produces most expensive coat fibers.It is collected from the two-humped Bactrian camel is native to the Asian Countries.The camel's fine inner down is combed away, shorn or collected during the 6-8 weeks moulting season. An adult camel yields about 5 to 10 kg of fleece per year.

Camel hair producing steps

• Collection
• Sorting
• Dehairing
• Spinning
• Weaving/Knitting

Properties of Camel Hair:

• Strength,
• Luster,
• Smoothness,
• Warmth,
• Light weight,
• thermostatic

End Uses:

• Over coats and jackets,
• blazers and sweaters,
• Skirts,
• Paint brushes,
• Gloves and hosiery items,
• Scarves,
• mufflers,
• caps Carpets and
• waterproof coats etc