Mohair
Mohair is made from the hair of the Angora Goat which was first found in the Mountains of Tibet, and later on made its way into Turkey. Although Mohair had been known to the British since the 8th century, Mohair fabric was not commercialized until the early 19th century. Turkey was the leading supplier of raw Mohair that was mostly exported to England - then the leading weaver of Mohair fabric. Because of the growing demand for Mohair products, the Angora goat was brought to England under Charles V around the middle of the 19th century. Other countries followed and the Angora goat was also crossed with other native goats. Today South Africa is the leading provider of raw Mohair.
The Angora Goat has, unlike Cashmere, a single coat making the sheering much less time consuming. The Angora goat is typically sheared twice a year and the average goat produces about 12-18 lbs of raw mohair in one season. The diameter of Mohair ranges widely and is correlated to the age of the animal. Younger goats hair is commonly used on clothing, scarves, and winter hats, while the thicker hair of older animals is more commonly used for rugs and other furniture.
Mohair is quite durable and has a nice luster. In addition mohair doesn't absorb water, doesn't stretch, and is quite flame retardant. Mohair should not be confused with Angora wool which doesn't come from the goat, but from the Angora Rabbit.
