Wool

Wool is a textile fiber obtained from sheep and other animals, including cashmere and mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, hide and fur clothing from bison, angora from rabbits, and other types of wool from camelids.

Characteristics

Wool has several key characteristics that distinguish it from hair or fur: it is crimped and elastic. The crimp makes wool bulkier than other fibers; this helps retain heat, which makes it suitable for use in cold weather. The elasticity helps wool garments stretch with the body, then return to their original shape.

Production

Wool is produced by follicles which are small cells located in the skin. These follicles are located in the upper layer of the skin called the epidermis and push down into the second skin layer called the dermis as the wool fibers grow.

Types of Wool

There are several types of wool, each with its own set of characteristics. These include:

• Merino Wool: This is the finest and softest wool of any sheep.
• Lambswool: This is the highest quality sheep’s wool. It’s gathered from a lamb’s first shearing, meaning the fibres are smoother, stronger and hold more elasticity.
• Cashmere Wool: This type of wool is finer, stronger, lighter, softer, and approximately three times more insulating than sheep wool.

Uses

Wool has been used for clothing since at least the third millennium BC. Today, wool is used for a wide range of products, from high fashion to home textiles.

See Also

• Sheep
• Textile
• Fiber

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