a little knowledge never hurt ... right?

Okay - do you know the diff between Angora rabbits and Angora goats? Wool and Alpaca? Cashmere and Camel?

Weeelllllll. Now you will.

Okay - pay attention.

Angora rabbits - give us angora fibre. This is that wonderfully soft, fragile and once spun, can be 2.5 times warmer than wool. However, because it's so fragile, it's usually combined with another fibre, like say, silk. NOW you're talkin'!

Angora goats - give us mohair fibre. Lightweigth, silky, soft and fluffy. But kinda abrasive on the skin. And both fibres from both animals can get right up your nose, causing no end of irritants!

Keep going?

Okay - Cashmere is also a goat. It is a very hardy animal that can often survive where other sheep and cattle couldn't. Very luxurious and known for it's softness, lightness and incredible warmth!

Camel hair is gathered when the animal moults, and is not sheared. Well, i don't blame them, do you? Those guys spit! This fibre, like Alpaca, is hollow, and thus retains warmth very well. AND apparently it's non-allergenic. And here's a news flash, the hair contains lanolin (like sheep) and can be absorbed by the wearers skin for therapeutic properties. Verrrrryyyy durable, it's even been in space on the astronauts.

This is fun, huh?

Okay, Alpaca - the new kid on the block. This fibre is also hollow, thus very warm (us +50's can only wear Alpaca at certain times, if you know what i mean!) Also non-allergenic, it's lighter than wool, warmer and more breathable. Wow!

And the workhorse of our shops - Wool. Of course there are many types and qualities of wool, but the key points are that it's warm (but as we've learned, not the warmest!), soft, durable, wrinkle free and generally keeps it's shape (felters, back off!)

Now, you know. And don't you feel better?