Textiles |
Source |
Animal Welfare Issues |
Characteristics |
Wool |
Sheep. (Though the term “wool” is often used for the hair of other animals) |
Practice called mulesing—painful skin stripping. |
Wool exteriors repel water while interiors attract water (is used to cover diapers). |
Alpaca |
Alpaca. (Relative of the llama). |
No issues we could find, though their numbers were once declining. |
Hypoallergenic. Warmer than wool. Effectively repels water and solar radiation. |
Angora |
Angora Rabbit. (Hair is obtained through shearing, combing or plucking.) |
Foot ulcers from wire cages. Males killed at birth because they don’t produce as much hair. |
Non-allergic, extremely soft. |
Camel |
Camel. (Hair is collected through combing, shearing, or shedding.) |
No issues we could find (let us know if there are any). |
Keeps wearer warm in cold weather and cool in hot weather. |
Cashmere |
Cashmere goats. (Hair is obtained through combing during molting season or by shearing.) |
No issues we could find (let us know if there are any). |
Known for its softness, cashmere is also warm and strong. |
Mohair |
Angora goat. |
No issues we could find (let us know if there are any). |
Warm and durable with high sheen and luster. Takes dye well. |
Vicuña |
Vicuña is a wild relative of the alpaca (Fleece is collected through shearing.) |
Poaching is a concern. These animals have been an endangered species in the past. They are shorn every 2-3 years. |
Considered to be the finest wool in the world. Traps air and is very insulating. |
Shahtoosh |
From the chiru also known as the Tibetan antelope. |
Endangered animals killed for their wool. |
Black-market products with high price tags ($15,000. for a shawl). Illegal since 1975. |
Silk |
Protein fiber made from the pupae of the mulberry silkworm. |
Worms are killed prior to silk harvesting. |
Soft and absorbent. Can be damaged by sunlight. Loses 20% of its strength when wet. Stretches easily. |