NATURAL FIBRES: Animal Fibres
Wool (Wo)
• Scaly, crimped structure
• Excellent insulation & moisture-wicking
• Used for thousands of years
• Essential for high-quality yarn & knit fabrics
Characteristics
• Holds garment shape well
• Retains air and warmth
• High elasticity → most extensible natural fibre
• Wrinkle resistant
• Biodegradable & mechanically recyclable
• Possible skin irritant
Wool (Wo)
Surface
• Scales absorb moisture
• Spiral shape allows stretch without breaking
• Crimped texture improves insulation & moisture-wicking
Common variations
• Fiber quality depends on sheep breed
• Three main types of sheep’s wool
• Merino = fine
• Shetland = medium
• Lambswool = fine
Care
Cashmere (Ws)
• Undercoat of Cashmere goat
• Softer, more luxurious than wool
Surface
• Fine, smooth fibres with tiny scales
• Silky, soft, thick and resilient, warm
Characteristics
• Silky, extremely fine, soft, graceful drape
• Delicate, prone to pilling
• Warmth and durability like wool
Care
Mohair (Wm)
• From Angora goat
• Soft, silky, lustrous, elastic
Surface
• Smooth, flat scales create shine
• Semi-hollow causes good insulation
Characteristics
• Natural sheen
• High elasticity
Care
Alpaca (Wp)
• From domesticated alpaca
• Undercoat of adult alpaca
Surface
• Smooth, fewer scales → silky, less itchy
• Semi-hollow core → light, thermally efficient
Characteristics
• 1/3 lighter than wool
• Very smooth, soft
• Felts easily
• Stronger than wool
• 3 - 5X warmer than wool
Care
Angora (Wa)
• Angora rabbit
Surface
• Very thin, smooth, minimal scales
• Long fibres → fluffy, halo effect
Characteristics
• Lightweight, soft, silky
• Extremely fine and fluffy
• Retains heat (up to 8× wool)
• Very low elasticity
Care
Yak (Wy)
• Yak undercoat
• Warmer than merino, soft as cashmere, tough as camel hair
Surface
• Fine, small scales (like cashmere)
• Slightly rigid → resilient, warm
Characteristics
• Soft and durable
• Shiny, more lustrous than wool
• Good drape, elastic
• Difficult to spin
• 10–15% warmer than wool
Care
Camel hair (Wk)
• From undercoat of Bactrian camels
• Luxurious, thermoregulating fibre
Surface
• Slightly irregular, sparse scales → soft yet robust
• Natural golden-tan colour, hard to bleach
Characteristics
• Lightweight, smooth, soft
• Excellent insulation
• Lower elasticity than wool
• Sensitive to chemicals
• Limited colour range
• Resistant to felting
Care
Silk (Se)
• Natural fibre from silkworm cocoons
• Soft, shiny, strong
Surface
• Prism-like fibres give a shimmer appearance
Characteristics
• Smooth, drapes well
• Static → hard to spin
• Medium elasticity -> wrinkle resistant
• Absorbs/releases moisture fast
Silk (Se)
Type
• Mulberry (highest quality)
• Tussah (medium quality)
• ERI (low quality)
• Muga (medium quality)
