Originally, fur was something that animals used to cover their bodies to protect themselves in the wild. It makes sense that wool has excellent heat retention and moisture absorption properties, as it helps animals adapt to the environments they live in, such as cold, wind, rain, and snow.
When we hear the word "yarn," we think of sheep's wool. Wool has a long history, with woolen fabrics already being made in the Mesopotamian region around 2000 BC.
Woolen sweaters are indispensable in the cold season. Even in today's world where many comfortable synthetic fibers have been developed, the texture of natural wool remains exceptional. However, there are many different types of wool. What kind of animals provide the wool that is the raw material for wool?
Wool is characterized by its unique crimp, which gives it a light and fluffy feel and keeps it warm by trapping a lot of air between its fibers. In addition, the surface is covered with a scaly structure that not only repels water, but also opens up and absorbs moisture when it becomes too wet, making it a highly functional material with both water-repellent and moisture-absorbent properties.
There are other hair fibers besides sheep's wool, which are generally called animal hair. For example, cashmere, a luxurious fiber with suppleness and luster, comes from the cashmere goat that lives in the alpine zone of northern India, and mohair, a soft fiber with long hair, comes from the angora goat, another type of goat. Angora, a fiber with a silky texture, comes from the hair of the long-haired angora rabbit.
Alpaca wool, a relative of the camel that has been bred in the Andes Mountains of South America for a long time, is also commonly used in sweaters. Alpacas live in the harsh high mountain environments, and their wool is very fine, smooth, and insulating.
For the more enthusiastic, there is qiviaq. It is the undercoat (fuzz) that grows densely under the tough outer coat of musk oxen, which live in extremely cold regions close to the Arctic Circle, such as northern Canada. Musk oxen are strictly protected and only a small amount can be harvested, so they are called the "phantom fiber." The wool of the vicuna, a type of camel with a small population and limited harvest, is also known for its rarity.
There are many variations in wool depending on its properties, and it is fun to make and warm both the body and the heart. Each strand of wool was given to us as a cold weather garment for animals. We want to wear it for a long time, appreciating the wisdom of nature.
Living Creatures Encyclopedia: Sheep
Sheep, a representative animal from which wool is produced, are members of the bovidae family. They were domesticated in ancient Mesopotamia around 6000 BC, and today, over one billion sheep are raised in various environments around the world for their wool and meat, with over one thousand breeds. Well-known wild sheep species include the bighorn, mouflon, and Dall sheep, and the horns of males in particular have a distinctive shape. Many domestic sheep have degenerated horns.
New Zealand Premium Wool
It took two years to develop, and is a rare breed that accounts for only 1.3% of the world's Merino wool. It is characterized by its excellent whiteness and soft texture. No mulesing is used, and animal welfare is also taken into consideration.