Where our clothing comes from and what fibers our garments are made from are factors that are becoming more and more important to the everyday consumer, not just the ethical types. The rise in fast fashion and cheap clothing shows that sweatshop labor is still rife around the world, and it needs to be stopped. Not only are the people in these factories working in inhumane conditions but the clothes that are being produced are lacking in quality and will rarely last a season.
Nowadays people are realizing you will get more bang for your buck if you steer away from fast fashion and spend a little more on quality pieces of clothing that will last longer and that have been crafted by professionals in good working conditions with precision and care.
Wool is a brilliant fiber for clothing and there are so many different types of wool it’s worth knowing what exactly you are getting for your money. The wool comes from a range of animals including sheep, camels, rabbits, and alpacas – the rarer the animal, the more expensive the wool tends to be.
Different Types of Wool
Cashmere
Cashmere is wool you probably will have heard of and it is made from the fur of the Kashmir goat, which can be found dwelling in the mountainous areas across Asia. The hair from this goat is cut (not shaved) to produce very fine and soft wool that is soft and feels luxurious on the skin. Garments that contain 100% cashmere wool aren’t cheap but often other types of woven clothes along with cashmere produce more affordable pieces of clothing.
Angora
Angora wool comes from rabbit wool and like cashmere is very fine and delicate wool – it also insulates heat and repels water. This type of wool is very rare as there are not many rabbit farmers around making it very expensive to buy. Like cashmere, angora is often woven with other types of wool to produce more affordable garments. Angora must always be dry-cleaned as it is so delicate, even hand-washing this type of wool can be detrimental to it.
Alpaca
Alpaca wool tends to come from two different types of alpacas – the Huacaya and the Suri. This type of wool is extremely lightweight but also robust. There are lots of alpaca farms around the world making this type of wool not so rare and a lot cheaper than cashmere and angora.
Sheep
Sheep wool is the most popular type of wool but all the different types of sheep produce very different kinds of wool. Lamb’s wool is the most expensive type of sheep wool as it is the softest kind. Merino is a very popular type of sheep wool and these sheep are often found in New Zealand and parts of Australia. Merino, like lamb’s wool, is a very soft type of sheep wool, which is why it is such a popular clothing fiber. It is excellent at regulating body temperature and like other wools contains lanolin, which has special antibacterial properties.