10 Interesting Facts about Wool

If you love to wear a brand-new cloth, perhaps you should definitely try to read one of these following facts about wool since it can be your reference to make a brand-new cloth. Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, angora from rabbits and other types of wool from camelids. Wool also has several qualities that distinguish it from hair or fur: it is crimped, elastic and it grows in staples (clusters). To get to know more about it, here are some other facts about wool you may like.

Facts about wool 1: Term

While in the United States the term “wool” is usually restricted to describing the fibrous protein derived from the specialized skin cells called follicles in sheep. In the UK the term may be used of any long curling fiber such as “wood”, “wire wool”, etc.

Facts about wool 2: Shearing

Sheep shearing is the process by which the woolen fleece of a sheep is cut off. After shearing, the wool is separated into four main categories: fleece (which makes up the vast bulk), broken, bellies, and locks.

Facts about wool 3: Scouring

Wool straight off a sheep, known as “greasy wool” or “wool in the grease”, contains a high level of valuable lanolin, as well as dirt, dead skin, sweat residue, pesticides, and vegetable matter. Before the wool can be used for commercial purposes, it must be scoured, a process of cleaning the greasy wool.

Facts about wool 4: Quality

The quality of wool is determined by its fiber diameter, crimp, yield, color, and staple strength. Fiber diameter is the single most important wool characteristic determining quality and price.

Facts about wool 5: Production

Global wool production is approximately 1.3 million tonnes per year, of which 60% goes into apparel. Australia is the leading producer of wool which is mostly from Merino sheep. New Zealand is the second-largest producer of wool, and the largest producer of crossbred wool.

Facts about wool 6: Uses

In addition to clothing, wool has been used for blankets, horse rugs, saddle cloths, carpeting, felt, wool insulation and upholstery. Wool felt covers piano hammers, and it is used to absorb odors and noise in heavy machinery and stereo speakers.

Facts about wool 7: Market

United States sheep producers market wool with private or cooperative wool warehouses, but wool pools are common in many states. In some cases, wool is pooled in a local market area, but sold through a wool warehouse.

Facts about wool 8: Organic Wool

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. It is becoming easier to find in clothing and other products, but these products often carry a higher price.

Facts about wool 9: Bedouins

Bedouins (desert dwellers) have worn sheep wool and sheep wool fabric blend for centuries.

Facts about wool 10: Non-allergenic

Wool is also naturally non-allergenic. Allergic reactions to wool are either due to lanolin, or the many harsh and toxic chemicals that go into the treatment, and finishing of conventional wool garments and bedding.

Those facts about wool hopefully would give you much references to your fashion style. Hope you would find those wool facts interesting and useful for your life.