What Is Angora Made of?

Angora is a soft, luxurious fabric and yarn that is used popularly for knitting, crocheting and clothing. It is made from the fur of Angora rabbits and is woven together with other soft materials such as cashmere.

Production

There are four breeds of Angora rabbit: English, French, Satin and Giant. The rabbits can be combed or shaved to harvest their fur. The harvested fur is spun with other fibers to create the wool, as pure Angora is too thin to hold together without other materials.

History

Although Angora wool was used for centuries in Turkey, it was not until the 18th century that it became a popular item in English fashion. It would be another two centuries before Angora would become popular in the United States.

Uses

Angora is considered a luxury fabric due to the labor-intensive process of obtaining the wool. It is used in sweaters, mittens, children's clothes and as a yarn for knitting and crafting.

References

• World Rabbit Science: Characteristics of Angora Rabbit Fibre
• The Joy of Handspinning: How to Care for Your Angora Rabbit