YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

We are asked lots of questions about organic farming, Angora goats, etc. So we have listed below a few of the most common questions that have been asked recently.

What Is Mohair?

Mohair is made from the fibre-like hair of the Angora goat – and is not to be confused with Angora wool, which is made from the fur of the Angora rabbit. Often blended with other textiles, mohair adds extra durability and a soft silky sheen. It feels warm in winter as it has excellent insulating properties, while its moisture-wicking properties allow it to remain cool in summer. Mohair is durable, flame-resistant, crease-resistant and also considered a luxury fibre, like cashmere or silk. It is generally more expensive to buy than sheep’s wool, but when hand washed with care it will last much longer. Due to its numerous quality attributes, people often refer to mohair as the diamond fibre.

Where Does Mohair Come From?

Mohair is considered to be one of the oldest fibre textiles in the world. Angora goats originally lived in the Tibetan mountains, but were introduced to Turkey in the 16th century, to the region of Ankara, which is where the name “angora” comes from. Today, the largest producers and exporters of mohair are South Africa and the U.S.A.

What does Eco Certification Mean?

Ecocert certification is your guarantee that we continually satisfy very high standards of animal welfare. In addition, it proves that we adopt the best organic, environmentally friendly and socially conscious practices on our farm. To view a copy of our certificate click on the logo below.

Are mohair garments easy to clean?

To answer this question I’ll refer to ‘wool’, rather than ‘mohair’, which, is not actually a wool, but can be classed as such for this section. Buying anything made of wool can sometimes cause concern because often they are not garments that you can put in the washing machine with the rest of the laundry. Please don’t be put off buying though, because although mohair is ‘sensitive’, it does not have to be dry cleaned. Clean it carefully at home and you can avoid having it go through any chemical dry-cleaning process. Once you have mastered how to maintain your mohair you will be able to enjoy your beautiful scarf, gloves or sweater for many years.

Wools are, to a degree, self-cleaning and I have fond memories of my grandmother sniffing her cashmeres. She would rotate wearing her wools so that they had a rest period, during which time she would lay them outside for a few hours in the fresh air. They would then be stored, folded (never hang woollen garments) in paper bags in a camphor wood chest. Then the sniff test. Wools are also anti-microbial, unlike synthetic fabrics, so you don’t need to wash a wool sweater as often as you would a manmade fibre.

Washing by Hand

However, you are going to want to wash it at some time. First thing to remember is that any wool will shrink if the water is too hot, so always use cool or lukewarm water. Hand washing mohair is the best and easiest way to get it clean. Start by soaking the garment in lukewarm water with a gentle wool detergent; simply fill a washbasin or sink with cool water and a small quantity of mild detergent. Make sure the soap is evenly distributed before placing the item in the water. Then slowly stir the garment around in the water and, if needed, allow to soak for up to 30 minutes. Mohair will felt if it is agitated too harshly so remember to be gentle.

When you have finished soaking the garment make sure to rinse it well to remove all the soapy water. Again, rinsing must be done in cool clean water, but do not wring or twist the garment. Instead, gently squeeze the garment with your hands to remove any remaining water. Another top tip is to squeeze it in a clean towel, again without wringing or twisting.

Finally, after your garment has been carefully washed, rinsed and squeezed, the last, most important part is to spread it out flat and let it air-dry in its normal shape. You can place it on a drying rack on top of a light-coloured, clean towel, then reshape as it dries.

Machine washing

If you have a ‘delicate’ mode on your washing machine, this can be used for washing mohair. Don’t leave it in for too long though, a few minutes on a cool, gentle, wool or hand-wash cycle should be sufficient to clean any wool garments. Depending on the garment you can let the machine run a very gentle spin, or just remove it wet and then squeeze out water. Mohair items should always be air dried, never tumble dried. There is some online advice about tumble drying woollen products on a light cycle inside a pillow case, but we don’t recommend this.

Contact Us

We love talking about our farm, our goats, mohair, donkeys, Joycie Pig.. anything really. So we’d be delighted to answer any queries you have. Feel free to contact us, we will get back to you as soon as we can.