Alpaca
Alpaca wool is also an animal fibre. Here, the fine hair of the alpaca, a camelid species originating from the Andes in South America, is spun. Alpaca wool is very fine and soft, and is a very good insulator. It is also known as the “fibre of the gods” and is one of the world’s most valuable natural yarns. It should only be washed by hand.

Cotton
Cotton is a plant fibre.
The cotton plant is a shrub, and it is the fibres of the mature seed capsules that are used and spun into cotton fabric. The spun thread can then be refined through different processes such as mercerisation or gassing. The most important quality characteristics for cotton are the length of the spun fibres, the type of cultivation, i.e. whether it has been cultivated conventionally, organically, etc. and the type of processing it then undergoes. Cotton has a number of properties that make it pleasant to wear. It is able to absorb lots of moisture, is skin-friendly and does not scratch, for example.

Cashmere
The fine hair of the cashmere goat is spun in the case of cashmere. The hair of the valuable undercoat is collected by hand in the spring when the animals shed the outer layer of their double fleece. Cashmere is the world’s finest and most valuable wool. It has a silky sheen and is soft and delicate to touch.

Mohair
Mohair is an animal fibre as well, and it is the fine hair of the mohair goat that is spun here. Mohair is usually mixed with other synthetic or natural fibres. The fibres are very light, soft and fleecy, and have a silky sheen.

Acrylic
Acrylic is a synthetic fibre that is produced using chemical processes. Also known as “Dralon”, acrylic is the most commonly used man-made fibre and is used both on its own and in combination with cotton or virgin wool. It has a wool-like feel, is soft, insulating, and is very easy to look after.

Polyamide
Polyamide, which is also known as “nylon”, is a synthetic fibre as well. Polyamide fibres are highly tear and abrasion resistant, and are therefore often mixed in with the virgin wool in sock yarns to strengthen the material. Like acrylic, polyamide is smooth and shiny.

Polyester
Polyester is a synthetic fibre similar to the polyamide fibre. It is very easy to look after, is hard-wearing and is able to retain its shape very well.

Virgin wool
Virgin wool is an animal fibre. It is fine sheep hair that is spun here, and the animals are shorn once or twice a year to obtain wool. The fineness and the strength of the puckering of the spun fibres are the characteristics used to assess the quality of virgin wool. The finer the fibres, the softer the wool. Merino wool is very soft, for example. The fineness of the fibres and puckering depend on the breed of sheep and climatic conditions Virgin wool is heat insulating and can absorb moisture without feeling wet.
A special process gives virgin wool a “superwash” coating, which makes it machine washable.