Angora fiber is a luxury textile prized globally for its exceptional softness and lightweight feel. This material originated historically from the region of Ankara, Turkey. Its unique properties allow it to be woven into garments that offer superior warmth without the bulk of traditional wools. Consumers seek Angora fiber for its delicate texture and plush appearance.
The True Source of Angora Fiber
True Angora fiber is exclusively harvested from the Angora rabbit, an animal specifically bred for its long, silky hair. This is often confused with Mohair, which comes from the Angora goat. The Angora rabbit is a domestic species, and its fiber is technically hair, not wool, though “Angora wool” is the commercial term.
Several distinct breeds of Angora rabbit exist, including the English, French, Satin, and Giant Angora. Characteristics vary slightly by breed. For instance, the German Angora breed has a coat that grows continuously and does not shed, making shearing the only viable harvesting option. Other breeds, like the English and French Angora, naturally molt every few months.
Distinguishing Angora from Other Luxury Fibers
Angora is categorized alongside other high-end animal fibers like Cashmere and Mohair. These fibers are distinguished by their animal source: Mohair comes from the Angora goat, and Cashmere is the undercoat fiber gathered from the Cashmere goat.
The visual and tactile differences are notable. Mohair is generally more durable and resilient, often possessing a distinct luster. Cashmere is renowned for its extreme fineness and smooth feel. Angora fiber is distinguished by its extreme lightness and the characteristic “halo” of fine, fluffy fibers that stand away from the garment’s surface.
Unique Characteristics and Desirable Qualities
The superior thermal performance of Angora fiber is due to its hollow core. This medullated structure decreases the fiber’s weight while significantly increasing its insulating capacity by trapping air. This allows garments made with Angora to be exceptionally warm yet lightweight.
The fiber is exceptionally fine, typically ranging from 12 to 16 micrometers in diameter, comparable to high-grade Cashmere. This low micron count is responsible for the fiber’s silky feel and softness. The delicate nature of the hair also creates the sought-after “halo effect,” the visible, soft fluffiness that gives Angora products their signature look.
Because 100% Angora fiber is delicate, lacks natural elasticity, and can be excessively warm, it is frequently blended with other materials. Common blending partners include sheep’s wool, silk, or synthetic fibers like nylon. Blending improves the finished product’s strength, wearability, elasticity, and affordability.
Methods of Harvesting and Ethical Considerations
Angora fiber is harvested from rabbits approximately every three to four months, corresponding to the animal’s natural growth cycle. There are two primary collection methods. Shearing involves carefully clipping the coat with scissors or electric shears, similar to sheep shearing. This method is fast but often results in a fiber batch containing more coarse guard hairs and shorter fibers, which can lower the quality.
The second method is plucking or combing, typically used when the rabbit naturally begins to molt. Humane plucking involves gently removing the loose hairs that are no longer attached to the follicle, which should not cause the rabbit pain. This technique yields the highest quality fiber because it collects the longest, softest down hairs with minimal guard hair contamination.
The industry has been marked by significant ethical concerns, particularly surrounding the practice of live plucking in some large-scale operations. This involves forcibly ripping the fur out before the natural molt, which is painful and traumatic for the rabbits. Consumers seeking ethically sourced Angora should look for suppliers who demonstrate transparency and utilize humane methods, such as responsible shearing or gentle collection of naturally shed hair.