About Fabrics MOHAIR: Mohair English pronunciation: /mohr/ usually refers to a silk-like fabric or yarn made from the

hair of the Angora goat.[1] The word "mohair" was adopted into English before 1570 from the Arabic: mukhayyar,[1] a type of haircloth, literally 'choice', from khayyara, 'he chose'.[2] Mohair fiber is approximately 25-45 microns in diameter.[3] It is one of the oldest textile fibers in use. It is both durable and resilient. It is notable for its high luster and sheen,[2] and is often used in fiber blends to add these qualities to a textile. Mohair also takes dye exceptionally well. Mohair is also warm as it has great insulating properties. It is durable, and resistant to moisture-wicking, stretch, flame and creases. It is considered to be a luxury fiber, like cashmere, angora and silk, and is usually more expensive than most wool that comes from sheep. Mohair is composed mostly of keratin, a protein found in the hair, wool, horns and skin of all mammals. While it has scales like wool, the scales are not fully developed, merely indicated.[2] Thus, mohair does not felt as wool does. Mohair increases its diameter with the age of the goat, growing along with the animal. Fine hair from younger animals is used for finer applications such as clothing, and the thicker hair from older animals is more often used for carpets and heavy fabrics intended for outerwear. The term mohair is sometimes used to describe a type of material used for the folding roof on convertible cars. In this instance, mohair refers to a form of denim-like canvas. Mohair should not be confused with the fur from the angora rabbit, which is called angora wool. The Yorkshire mills spun yarn that was exported to Russia, Germany, Austria, etc., as well as woven directly in Yorkshire.[2] Mohair is not a soft yarn, when compared with alpaca or cashmere, or synthetic fibers or wools that have been treated and blended with other fibers to enhance softness. On the other hand, mohair is valued for certain unique characteristics: it is warmer than other fibers, even when used to make a light-weight garment, and is often blended with wool for this reason; and mohair fibers have a distinctive luster created by the way they reflect light. Combined with mohair's ability to absorb dyes exceptionally well, pure mohair yarns are usually recognizeable for their vivid saturated colours. WOOL Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals. Wool has several qualities that distinguish it from hair or fur: it is crimped, it is elastic, and it grows in staples (clusters).[2] The term wool is usually restricted to describing the fibrous protein derived from the specialized skin cells called follicles in sheep.[3] The amount of CRIMPcorresponds to the fineness of the wool fibers. A fine wool like Merino may have up to 100 crimps per inch, while the coarser wools like karakul may have as few as 1 to 2.Wool fibers are hydrophilic, meaning they readily absorb moisture. Wool fibers are hollow.[4] Wool can absorb moisture almost one-third of its own weight.Wool is resistant to static electricity, as the moisture retained within the fabric conducts electricity. This is why wool garments are much less likely to spark or cling to the body Processing 1.Shearing (cuting) 2.Scouring(cleaning of wool) The quality of wool is determined by the following factors, fiber diameter, crimp, yield, colour, and staple strength. Fiber diameter is the single most important wool characteristic determining quality and price.

Merino wool, is the most finest wool. Any wool finer than 25 microns can be used for garments, while coarser grades are used for outerwear or rugs. The finer the wool, the softer it is, while coarser grades are more durable and less prone to pilling. Organic wool is becoming more and more popular. This wool is very limited in supply and much of it comes from New Zealand and Australia.[30] It is becoming easier to find in clothing and other products, but these products often carry a higher price. ALPACA An alpaca is a domesticated species of South American camelid. Alpaca fleece is the natural fiber harvested from an alpaca. It is light or heavy in weight, depending on how it is spun. It is a soft, durable, luxurious [1] and silky natural fiber. While similar to sheeps wool, it is warmer, not prickly, and has no lanolin, which makes it hypoallergenic. an alpaca that grows soft spongy fiber, has natural crimp, thus making a naturally elastic yarn well-suited for knitting. Suri has far less crimp and thus is a better fit for woven goods. Alpaca fleece is made into various products. here are two types of alpaca: Huacaya (which produce a dense, soft, crimpy sheep-like fiber), and the Suri (with silky pencil-like locks, resembling dreadlocks but without matted fibers). Suris, prized for their longer and silkier fibers. In physical structure, alpaca fiber is somewhat akin to hair, being very glossy. Alpaca fiber is similar to merino wool fiber, and alpaca yarns tend to be stronger than wool yarns. The alpaca has a very fine and light fleece. It does not retain water, is thermal even when wet and can resist solar radiation effectively. These characteristics guarantee the animals a permanent and appropriate coat to fight against the extreme changes of temperature. [10] This fiber offers the same protection to humans. Alpacas as animals are soft on the environment, making alpaca a truly green textile. Alpaca fiber contains also microscopic airbags that make possible the manufacture of light textiles, as well as different kinds of clothing. The cells of the central core may contract or disappear, forming air pockets which assist insulation. Fleeces vary from alpaca to alpaca, and in some, there may be a higher incidence of medullated fibers, compared to wool and mohair. This can be an objectionable trait. Medullated fibers can take less dye, standing out in the finished garment, and are weaker. The proportion of medullated fibers is higher in the coarser, unwanted guard hairs: there is less or no medullation in the finer, lower micrometer fibers.[11].[12]. These undesirable fibers are easy to see and give a garment a hairy appearance. Quality alpaca products should be free from these medullated fiber Alpacas come in many shades from a true-blue black through browns-black, browns, fawns, white, silver-greys, and rose-greys.[1] However, white is predominant,[1] because of selective breeding: the white fiber can be dyed in the largest ranges of colors. Alpaca fiber is used for many purposes, including making clothing such as scarves, gloves, and jumpers. FLEECE "fleece," is a soft napped insulating synthetic fabric made from Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or other synthetic fibers. Fleece has some of wool's finest qualities but weighs a fraction of the lightest available woolens.

Polar fleece is used in casual jackets, hats, sweaters, jogging bottoms/sweatpants, gym clothes, hoodies, inexpensive throw blankets, and high-performance outdoor clothing, and can be a vegan alternative to wool. It can be made partially from recycled plastic bottles and is very light, soft and easy to wash. Fleece is a soft, lightweight, warm and comfortable fabric. It is hydrophobic, holding less than 1% of its weight in water, it retains much of its insulating powers even when wet, and it is highly breathable. These qualities make it useful for making clothing intended to be used during strenuous physical activity; perspiration is able to readily pass through the fabric[citation needed]. It is machine washable and dries quickly. It is a good alternative to wool (of particular importance to those who are allergic or sensitive to wool). Another benefit of fleece is that it can be made out of recycled PET bottles, or even recycled fleece. Fleece also tends to generate a high amount of static electricity, which causes the accumulation of lint, dust, and pet hair. It is also susceptible to damage from high temperature washing, tumble drying or ironing. Lower-quality fleece material is also prone to pilling. PET poly(ethylene terephthalate)), commonly abbreviated PET is a thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family and is used in synthetic fibers.he majority of the world's PET production is for synthetic fibers (in excess of 60%), PET is commonly recycled, and has the number "1" as its recycling symbol. it becomes significantly stiffer and more durable. elastane/Spandex is a synthetic fibre known for its exceptional elasticity. The name "spandex" is an anagram of the word "expands".[1] It is the preferred name in North America; in many European countries it is referred to as "elastane", and is known in Britain mainly as LYCRA. solution dry spinning method is used to produce . For clothing, spandex is usually mixed with cotton or polyester, and accounts for a small percentage of the final fabric, which therefore retains most of the look and feel of the other fibers. Mostly preferred in women's clothing. Apparel and clothing articles where stretch is desired, generally for comfort and fit, such as: athletic, aerobic, and exercise apparel belts bra straps and side panels competitive swimwear dance belts worn by male ballet dancers and others diapers disco jeans gloves hosiery leggings netball bodysuits orthopaedic brace ski pants skinny jeans slacks socks swimsuits/bathing suits underwear wetsuits zentai Compression garments such as:

cycling shorts foundation garments motion capture suits rowing unisuit Shaped garments such as bra cups support hose surgical hose superhero women's volleyball shorts wrestling singlet. Polyester. Polyester is a synthetic polymer made of purified terephthalic acid (PTA) or its dimethyl ester dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) and monoethylene glycol (MEG). ACRLIC Acrylic fibers are synthetic fibers made from a polymer . Acrylic is lightweight, soft, and warm, with a wool-like feel.Some acrylic is used in clothing as a less expensive alternative to cashmere, due to the similar feeling of the materials. static and pilling can be a problem in certain fabrications. it is machine-washable. CORDUROY Corduroy is a textile composed of twisted fibers that, when woven, lie parallel (similar to twill) to one another to form the cloth's distinct pattern, a "cord. As a fabric, corduroy is considered a durable cloth. Corduroy is found in the construction of trousers, jackets and shirts.The process of coloring or printing corduroy with pigment dyes. The dye is applied to the surface of the fabric, then the garment is cut and sewn. When washed during the final phase of the manufacturing process, the pigment dye washes out in an irregular way, creating a vintage look. The color of each garment becomes softer with each washing, and there is a subtle color variation from one to the next. No two are alike. Alternative names include: corded velveteen, elephant cord, pin cord, Manchester cloth and cords. VELVETEEN Velveteen is a cloth made in imitation of velvet. Normally cotton, the term is sometimes applied to a mixture of silk and cotton. Some velveteens are a kind of fustian, having a rib of velvet pile alternating with a plain depression. VELOUR Velour or velours is a plush, knitted fabric or textile. It is usually made from cotton but can also be made from synthetic materials such as polyester. Velour is used in a wide variety of applications, including clothing and upholstery. Velour is a knitted fabric, allowing it to stretch. It combines the stretchy properties of knits such as spandex with the rich appearance and feel of velvet. Velour is used in dance wear for the ease of movement it affords, and is also popular for warm, colorful, casual clothing. When used as upholstery, velour often is substituted for velvet. Velour is also widely used in the manufacture of theater drapes and stage curtains.