Natural Fibres
We like to use all natural fibres for our hats and scarves. Natural fibres have two sources - animal and plant - and vary in colour from off-white to black with all shades of cream to dark brown and greys in between.
All images from Wikipedia.
All images from Wikipedia.
wool |
alpaca |
There are many types of wool but everyone knows merino for its incredible softness. Wool comes from sheep and there are many different breeds with different types of wool. Some are better suited to rugs and carpets as they are more durable and tend to be coarser and scratchier. Wool is known for its warmth and versatility. Wool is harvested by seasonal shearing.
silk
Silk comes from the coccons that silkworms spin in order to transform (metamorphose) into silk moths. There are two broad categories: cultivated (bombyx mori) and wild (eg. tussah, eri, etc). Silk is harvested by unreeling the cocoon (if it is unbroken) or combing. Silk is known for its lustre and drape.
Cotton
Cotton comes from the cotton plant, in particular the part called the boll which grows around the seeds. Cotton is harvested by picking the bolls.
Angora
Angora is from the angora rabbit and is an extremely fluffy (not the technical term) fibre which is very warm on its own. Angora is harvested by plucking or shaving the rabbits.
|
Alpacas are like a smaller version of llamas and are native to South America. The fibre is extremely soft and warm and is harvested by seasonal shearing.
Mohair
Mohair is from the angora goat (not to be confused with the angora rabbit which is where angora comes from). Mohair is very lofty and provides a lot of warmth without much weight. Mohair is harvested by seasonal shearing.
Flax
Flax is a very vertile plant giving us fibres for spinning as well as seeds for food and oil (linseed). Woven into fabric, flax is known as linen but it can also be used for ropes and canvas.
Hemp
Hemp, a cousin of cannabis sativa, can be made into a wide variety of items including fibre, oil, food, rope and clothing. It is similar to linen (from the flax plant) in its processing and feel.
|