Wool is a kind of environmentally friendly fabric made of all-natural materials like various animals’ hair. Wool fabric has been used in the textile industry for many years. It has some extraordinary features, including excellent breathability, good heat restations, comfortability, etc. Various kinds of materials are made of this fabric.
In this article, we’ll discuss what is wool fabric in detail.
What is Wool Fabric?
Wool fabric is a kind of natural fabric manufactured from various animals’ hair, especially sheep, goats, or even rabbits. It is a kind of natural and ecologically friendly fabric. It is a natural fabric that has already been utilized by man for ages because of its warming and comfort.
Wool fabric is extremely durable and has excellent thermal insulation characteristics. It comes in a variety of types and is used in the textile industry for a variety of reasons. Wool may advantage from natural absorbent properties depending on what type of hair is used in its production.
Wool is a particularly flame-resistant fabric when compared to cotton as well as other synthetic textile fabrics. Instead of spreading flame, it is unique and personalized. As a result, a particular type of fabric is extremely beneficial in applications where permeability is a concern.
Wool Fabric Properties
| Name of the Fabric | Wool Fabric |
| Fabric Composition | Various animals Hair |
| Fabric thread count | Approx 200 |
| Fabric Breathability | Medium |
| Heat restation Capability | Excellent |
| Stretch Capability | Medium |
| Moisture-wicking Capability | High |
| Comfortability | Excellent |
| Prone to bubbling | High |
| washing temperatures | Warm or Cold |
| Usage | Sweaters, suits, socks, pants, hats, underwear, blouse, cold-weather gear, gloves, carpets, insulation, firefighting gear, etc. |
Types of Wool Fabric
There are different types of wool fiber available in the textile industry according to the hair or coating of animals used to manufacture wool fabric. Every kind of wool fabric has some dedicated features and functionality. Here is the type of wool fabric below_
1. Merino Wool:
Merino is one of the common wools, and among others, it is the best kind of wool. This wool is utilized to manufacture different kinds of apparel, garments, and industrial application. Merino wool is a natural fiber grown by Merino sheep. It has many benefits like It’s firstly natural. It helps regulate body temperature. Merino wool helps you to keep dry or warm and sweat-free.
2. Qiviut Wool:
Qiviut wool is a type of wool fabric manufactured from the hair of the musk ox. The wool fabric is eight times stronger insulative than sheep wool, notwithstanding its roughness. It is among the smoothest and warmest wools available. Qiviut wool is perfect for gloves, pants, hats, as well as other cold-weather applications.
3. Cashmere Wool:
Cashmere is among the most costly and luxurious wools available. Sweaters, caps, socks, shirts, underwear, cold gear, scarves, hosiery, blazers, and gloves are all made from this wool. Cashmere wool is extremely delicate and soft, yet it also has excellent durability features.
4. Mohair Wool:
Mohair is a kind of wool that is extremely thick but wavy wool as well as a soft yarn. This kind of wool is made from the hair of angora goats, which is extremely thick, smooth, and wavy wool. The various applications include scarves, sweaters, winter hats, socks, suits, coats, home furnishing, wall fabrics, craft yarns, and many others made of this wool.
5. Cheviot Wool:
Cheviot is a kind of wool fabric that is created from the rough hair of Cheviot sheep. This wool is usually used to describe moderate to heavy woolen fabrics with a matte surface texture. This type of wool is often used as a coating cloth.
6. Virgin Wool:
Virgin wool is made from a lamb’s first shearing, which is also known as lamb’s wool. Virgin wool also refers to wool that has not been recycled. This wool is used for slippers, clothing items such as jumpers & home items such as blankets and rugs. It has amazing benefits like durability and softness. This wool has excellent moisture wicking also washable features.
7. Alpaca Wool:
Alpaca Wool is a silky, luxuriant fuzzy structured wool with a cotton knit produced from Alpaca hair. The fact that this kind of wool is hypoallergenic is the best feature of this wool. Aside from that, it’s as smooth and toasty as any other high-quality wool. Sweaters, stockings, caps, gloves, suits, and designer apparel are all made using alpaca wool.
8. Lambswool:
This wool fabric is manufactured from some kind of lamb’s first shearing fleece, which is sheared when the lamb is only six to seven months old. This kind of wool produces a fabric that is both strong and smooth. In terms of quality, it is regarded as the best wool.
9. Camel Wool:
This kind of wool is manufactured from the camel’s undercoat. It’s usually collected when the animal is shedding its coat. Camel-hair fiber is more sensitive and insulating than human hair, as well as being warm and comfy. Overcoat fabrics, blankets, knitwear, and carpets are all made from this kind of wool.
10. Angora Wool:
Angora wool comes from a special breed of rabbit that produces incredibly fine and soft hair. Though it is much expensive wool, it is well known for its softness, thin fibers & fluffiness. This wool fabric is used in various apparel applications such as sweaters and suits, knitting yarn, and felting.
11. Llama Wool:
Llama wool is super soft & remarkably light & smooth. However, it is too abrasive to wear adjacent to the skin, although it is appropriate for outerwear. It’s difficult to discover a llama breeder who produces this kind of wool. Llama fiber is a kind of special fiber that is used for spinning, felting, knitting, and weaving & can also be blended imaginatively with other fibers.
12. Vicuna Wool:
Vicuna wool is manufactured from the vicuna’s fleece. This is the most expensive type of wool available. Sweaters, socks, scarves, suit insulation, coat, suit insulation, throws, blankets, throws, and other homewares are all made from this wool.
13. Shetland wool:
Shetland is a type of wool that is created by specific sheep’s wool found in Scotland. This wool has all of the excellent features of the finest wool textiles – and it keeps you toasty warm. It’s ideal for creating winter apparel. However, the fabric is a touch scratchy.
Characteristics of wool fabric
i. Excellent Breathability:
Wool has excellent breathable properties, and this fabric collects moisture vapor and then transports it away from you to dissipate into the environment. However, this fabric is extremely breathable; it is also has less clamminess prone.
ii. Anti-static Functionality:
Wool absorbs moisture condensate but does not produce static electricity; thus, it is less prone to attach to the skin in an uncomfortable way than other materials.
iii. Effective to absorbing moisture:
Wool fabric is extremely effective in absorbing moisture. It absorbs moisture after drying and minimizes quick dissipation, preventing the wearer from feeling cool. It absorbed sweat after strenuous exercise and helps to protect the body from temperature changes.
iv. Excellent Stretchability:
Wool has a lot of elasticity. When this fabric is dry, it’s approximately 10 percent to 30 percent stretched, and when it’s saturated, it’s about 40 percent to 50 percent stretched. When the fabric is dry, it quickly back to its normal proportions.
v. Cool and Warm:
Unlike synthetics or other fabrics, wool is a living fiber that responds to variations in core temperature. As a result, it keeps you warm whenever it’s cold outside and cool whenever it’s hot outside.
vi. Odor resistant:
The wool fabric offers a high level of odor resistance. This cloth can absorb moisture evaporate, meaning you’ll sweat less. These effectively absorb and seal away perspiration scents that were then expelled when washed away.
Wool Fabric Applications
a. Apparel Industry:
Wool fabric is widely used in the apparel production industry science. This fabric features good breathability, heat restation, and moisture absorbs capability. Wool is far more commonly found in outerwear and other apparel that do not come into direct touch with the body. Various apparel applications like Sweaters, suits, pants, hats, underwear, etc., are made of this fabric.
b. Upholstery:
Since the wool fabric has excellent durability, retention aesthetic appearance, and flame resistance characteristics, this fabric is widely used in upholstery. No extra flame retardant treatment was added to domestic wool goods. Commercial wool fabric may be treated with a protective coating.
c. Furnishing:
Wool is commonly used in carpets and customized rugs, which are often made to order. Contemporary handmade woven or knotted carpets with complex motifs. Wool rugs are more expensive than regular carpets because of their excellent design, texture, coloring, and attractiveness.
d. Industrial Uses:
In addition to Upholstery and Furnishing, Wool Fabric Industrial is also used for various purposes. Wool is used to making felts, which aim to reduce noise. Oil spills are also cleaned up with wool. Wool compost mats can also be used to manage weeds in the landscape and horticulture.
Conclusion
Although wool is an expensive fabric than cotton, it has some extraordinary features. This fabric is widely used in the textile industry for many years. Wool fibers and fabrics performed admirably in quantitative moisture and thermal property comparisons. Carpets, mattresses, coats, and sweaters manufacture heavy wool, and wool blends continue to hold social and economic significance in the market.
That’s for Today.
Mahedi Hasan is a Textile Engineer, as well as a Top Rated content writer at Upwork, a Level 02 Seller at Fiverr, Level 02 Publisher at Ezoic. A passionate textile and fashion content writer, fashion SEO expert, and fashion web designer. Having a B.Sc. in Textile Engineering Degree from Textile Engineering College, Noakhali (TECN). The department is Apparel Engineering. Highly Experienced fashion writer for the last 3+ years. Have extensive 7 years of experience in the wholesale clothing business.