Mohair is the wool of the Angora goat: long, soft fibres with a silky sheen. The fibres are stronger than sheep's wool, weigh little and keep you warm, even when they get damp. You'll find mohair in jumpers and knitting yarns, but also in some suit fabrics.

Where mohair wool comes from

The name angora can easily lead you astray: angora wool comes from the Angora rabbit, mohair from the Angora goat. The goat owes its name to Ankara, the Turkish capital that used to be called Angora. The word mohair itself comes from Arabic and means something like 'fabric of fine goat hair'. The wool was already a sought-after trade product in ancient times. It was only in the mid-nineteenth century that the goat was also introduced to other countries. South Africa is now the largest producer.

Mohair compared with merino wool

The fibre of merino wool is fine and crimped, while mohair is long and straight. Mohair also contains little lanolin, the natural grease in sheep's wool. Mohair comes in different qualities: the softest is called kid mohair and comes from young goats. If you brush mohair after washing, it takes on an airy, slightly hairy look. At Suitable you'll find wool jumpers in other types of wool.