Care Instructions

Mohair (and wool) has scales on the hair shaft. Agitating or rubbing the garment makes these scales lock together, thereby wadding or felting the product.

Mohair and wool are similar in that they both consist of the protein keratin. However, they differ in the shape of the fibre with wool having a slightly elliptical cross-section whereas very fine mohair is perfectly round.

The surface structure of mohair fibres differs from those of wool. While both have “scales”, those on mohair are larger lie closer and flatter against the sheath, wool scales protrude more. The result is a greater reflection of light, which gives mohair its characteristic lustre.

The existence of scales on the hair or wool shaft is what gives the felting capacity of the fibre or in the case of normal washing, what makes the article “wad”. When these fibres are agitated or the fibres are rubbed against each other, the scales interlock and do not come undone. This is the process of felting or wadding. Because the mohair scales do not protrude as much mohair has a much lower felting capacity than wool.

If you do not wish to “wad” your clothes do not agitate them or rub them when washing. Simply let them lay in the water and detergent.

Note …
Machine washability requires
the shaft of the fibre to be
coated with a chemical. This
stops the scales from inter-
locking thereby stopping the
process of wadding or felting

How to look after your mohair product

Do not agitate or rub
Warm hand wash in approved detergent
Warm rinse well
Dry flat in shade, shape

Do not tumbledry
Do not dryclean
Do not iron
Do not machine wash
Do not bleach