Wool is a natural textile fiber obtained from the shorn hair of various animals, such as sheep, goats, camels, yaks, and vicuñas.
Wool is a versatile, warm, durable, and insulating material used to make clothing, accessories, rugs, wigs, and more.
But what are the qualities that make one wool more valuable than another? And what is the most precious wool of all? In this article, we try to give some of our opinions.
The fineness of the fiber
One of the main criteria for evaluating the quality of wool is the fineness of the fiber, that is, the diameter of the hair, measured in microns (one thousandth of a millimeter). In general, the finer the fiber, the softer, lighter, and shinier the wool.
For comparison, human hair has an average diameter between 40 and 90 microns, while the finest wools have much smaller diameters.
The fineness of the fiber depends on the animal's breed, climate, diet, and care it receives.
The most precious types of wool
There are different types of wool, each with its peculiarities and economic value. Among the best known and appreciated, we can mention:
- Cashmere: it is the wool obtained from the coat of a Tibetan goat (Hircus), raised in countries such as India, Turkey, Iran, Russia, and Mongolia. It is also known as "golden fleece" for its softness, shine, and ability to protect against the cold. The fiber diameter ranges between 15 and 19 microns1.
- Mohair: it is the wool produced by the Angora goat breed, native to Turkey. It is a silk-like wool due to the length and brilliance of the hair, very durable and suitable for dyeing. It is used to make wigs, rugs, and elegant garments. The fiber diameter ranges between 24 and 60 microns2.
- Merino: it is the wool derived from the Merino sheep breed, native to Morocco and imported to Spain in the Middle Ages. Today, the main producing countries are Australia and New Zealand. It is a fine wool (20 microns), elastic and breathable, suitable for both summer and winter garments2.
- Camel: it is the wool obtained from the camel, an animal living in Asia and Africa. It is a precious, hypoallergenic, light, and elastic fiber that maintains a constant body temperature and protects against overheating. The average annual yield is 5 kg for males and 3.5 kg for females. The hair diameter ranges from 17 to 23 microns2.
- Yak: it is the wool coming from the yak, a bovine living free on the plateaus of Central Asia, particularly in Tibet and Mongolia. It is a warm, soft, durable, and waterproof wool used to create high-quality garments and local crafts. The hair diameter is about 18 microns2.
- Vicuña: it is the most precious and expensive wool in the world, extracted from the vicuña, a camelid living in the Andes in Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Ecuador. The vicuña was already known at the time of the Incas, who reserved it for rulers and priests. Today it is a protected species, and shearing occurs only every two years, yielding about 250 grams per animal. The fiber is exceptionally fine, soft, and shiny, with a diameter of 12 microns3.
Conclusions
Wool is a natural fiber with multiple qualities, differing based on fineness, softness, shine, and hair durability.
Among the types of wool, the most precious of all is vicuña, followed by cashmere, mohair, merino, camel, and yak. These wools are sought after and expensive but offer unique comfort and beauty.
It is no coincidence that we offer our buyers garments made with the best natural yarns from the finest wools. Like the men's pure cashmere crewneck sweater or the women's pure cashmere crewneck sweater.
