What are the different types of wool?

Sheep's wool, cashmere, alpaca, mohair or merino – what are the differences between the various types of wool?

Wool has long been, and still is, a popular material for making textiles. It can be a hat, scarf, glove or jumper - wool is used for them all. When we think of "wool" in general, most of us probably associate it with conventional sheep's wool or new wool. However, there are many other types of wool, each with different looks and properties. In the following article, we would like to introduce you to the five most important types of wool.

Sheep’s wool

When we hear the term "wool", we inevitably think of the conventional and, in earlier times, also best-known type of wool. Sheep's wool comes from domestic sheep and offers a wide range of positive properties. This allows it to absorb almost a third of its weight in moisture without feeling wet or damp. In addition, it does not absorb moisture as much, but rather passes it on. Since up to 85% and thus an enormously large proportion of the wool consists only of air, it is very well suited as an insulator. As a result, the body's own heat escapes only slowly and to a small extent. Another advantage that wool offers is the fact that it hardly creases. A significant positive aspect is also that sheep's wool hardly absorbs dirt and therefore also does not quickly take on odours and at the same time has a self-cleaning function so that the odours that have been taken on are quickly released back into the air. This causes the wool to take on a neutral scent again. On the negative side, sheep's wool tends to scratch more than other types of wool.

Cashmere

Cashmere is a particularly upscale and high-quality type of wool, which, however, comes from an animal other than the sheep, namely the cashmere goat. Cashmere wool is obtained by combing out the underfur of the goat. This is found mainly in Mongolia, China and the Central Asian highlands. The fine undercoat only forms at temperatures around -40 °C. Because only a very small amount of this top-class type of wool is obtained by combing, cashmere is enormously expensive and for this reason is often mixed with cheaper types of wool when it comes to textile production. Cashmere is especially known for its softness and high breathability. Furthermore, the wool repels dirt and absorbs odours only slightly to not at all. The low weight is also particularly practical, although this does not preclude simultaneous heat protection. Lastly, cashmere does not deform or crease, or only marginally, due to its high flexibility.

Alpaca wool

Alpaca wool, as the name suggests, is made from the fur of alpacas. Once a year, the animals are shorn. After shearing, the wool is washed and sorted by colour. Further cleaning and production processes follow until the wool can finally be used for the production of textiles. Of all wool types, alpaca wool offers the best thermal insulation, as its hollow inner fibre ensures that heat is optimally stored and cannot escape. This is true at least when the outside temperature is cool. If it is warm outside, on the other hand, the hollow fibres of the wool ensure that the heat is carried to the outside and the body is thus kept cool. Similar to sheep's wool, alpaca wool can absorb about a quarter of its weight in moisture without appearing wet. In addition, alpaca wool is odour and dirt repellent. Together with the antibacterial effect, an absolutely pleasant wearing sensation is guaranteed. Compared to cashmere wool and other natural fibres, alpaca wool also does not felt as quickly.

Mohair

Mohair is an enormously high-quality type of wool. This upscale fibre is obtained from the hair of the Angora goat. The basic rule is that the softness and suppleness depend on the fineness of the wool. The fineness of the fibre again depends on the age of the respective animal. Younger alpaca goats have finer, softer hair than the older ones. Overall, the stages of the animals and thus also the fineness of the wool can be divided into three subcategories. The softest coat is that of the so-called "kid", which is a young animal that is shorn for the first time at the age of six months. This is followed by the "young goat", a young animal that is not yet fully grown. Lastly, there is the so-called "adult goat", which has the firmest wool of all three. Regardless of this classification, mohair has a number of useful properties. Just like sheep's wool, mohair can absorb up to a third of moisture without you noticing it when you wear it. The temperature-regulating property is also particularly useful, ensuring that you are warmed in winter and cooled in summer when wearing clothes or accessories made from mohair wool. Crumpled textiles made of mohair wool are also hard to find, as mohair quickly finds its way back into shape. Moreover, mohair wool is also so popular because it has an antibacterial effect.

Merino wool

Merino wool is the wool of the merino sheep. The individual fibre is only about half as thick as that of sheep's wool. Although the actual origin of the Merino sheep is the North African region, the sheep species is now also found in Germany, but mainly in New Zealand and Australia. The latter two countries are among the largest wool producers in the world. Due to the basic fineness of merino wool, it scratches much less compared to sheep's wool. Merino wool is also breathable and dries quite quickly once it gets wet. Another advantage in this context is the fact that it provides warmth even when damp. Compared to conventional sheep's wool, merino needs to be washed much less often due to its antibacterial effect. Also incredibly practical is the fact that you can also wear this type of wool in summer, as it regulates temperature and thus has a cooling effect on warm days. At the same time, it offers additional UV protection.

It is easy to see that the many types of wool with their different properties mean that you can easily find the right type of wool for every wearing occasion. Depending on one's own needs, different requirements are in the foreground, which can be specifically covered by sheep's wool, cashmere, merino, alpaca and mohair.