Wool is a warm material of natural origin, one of the most popular materials for the cold season. And this is not surprising: it perfectly retains heat, does not absorb moisture, is breathable, durable and environmentally friendly. Wool only gets warmer when worn regularly – as it piles up – and does not allow cold air to pass through. The most popular animals whose wool fibers are used for production are goats (cashmere and mohair), sheep (merino wool, lamb’s wool, and Shetland wool), and animals of the camel family, such as alpacas, llamas, and vicuñas. Wool is a natural fiber made from the protective coat of mammals. It is an environmentally friendly material, as wool is sheared from animals annually and requires almost no resources for processing, while it is completely biodegradable. Woolen products should be washed by hand only or in a suitable washing machine. The maximum permissible temperature is 30 °C.

Mohair comes from Angora goats and its difference is that during shearing, protective hair from the top coat is added to the undercoat. Angora goats have a very soft undercoat due to the mild climate where they are grown. Long fibers make the fabrics smooth and create a characteristic fluffiness. Mohair products are highly valued, they are warm and pleasant to the touch – soft and fluffy. In the first period of wear, mohair may shed and leave behind small fibers. Do not be afraid of this – this process is natural for the fabric and ends quickly. Mohair items require careful maintenance. Professional dry cleaning remains the best way to clean products.

The alpaca is an animal belonging to the camel family, like the Llama and Vigona Lavaggi (Vicuña). It is native to the Andes Mountains of South America and is highly prized for its stunning wool, which has hollow fibers that make it lightweight and insulates heat well. The ancestor of the alpaca was the vicuña. It is not only lighter and softer than sheep’s wool, but also warmer and three times stronger. Alpaca is as soft as cashmere, but much stronger. Its hypoallergenic values make it ideal for people with sensitive skin. Alpaca wool, which is extracted by shearing, does not have the quality of rolling or falling off. You may see lints or pills on a product made of baby or superfine alpaca, but these lint can be easily removed by hand without leaving any hooks or other marks on the product. This is also a property of alpaca – this is how the delicate fluff of wool comes off, and the product retains its appearance and shape for many years. Alpaca is practically waterproof and does not contain lanolin, which is why alpaca clothing stays clean for a long time. Wash knitted items made of alpaca yarn in plenty of warm water with neutral detergents. Alpaca wool knitting threads are never dyed; it has 22 natural shades. There are several types of wool that differ in fiber diameter: Royal alpaca – 19 microns, Baby alpaca – 22.5 microns, Very soft alpaca – 25.5 microns, Adult alpaca – 32 microns.

Lamb’s wool or Virgin Wool is obtained from the first shearing of young sheep, at about seven months of age. It is extremely soft, smooth and hypoallergenic. This material is not only durable, but also breathable, providing skin comfort. It also provides excellent insulation, keeping you warm in winter and cool in summer.

Cashmere is obtained from the undercoat of cashmere goats during molting. Cashmere is one of the finest and most luxurious natural fibers in the world. It is famous for its extraordinary softness, warmth and high quality. The fiber has features that, at first glance, seem incompatible. Cashmere products are literally weightless, while having low thermal conductivity, they are very warm and cozy, despite their thinness. Cashmere fiber is completely natural and does not cause allergic reactions. Cashmere fibers retain their values after processing. Exceptional warmth, extraordinary thinness and exquisite softness make cashmere an ideal material for the most luxurious garments. Cashmere is used in its purest form or in combination with other noble materials, such as silk, to create the lightest fabrics.

Merino wool is a natural fiber obtained from a special breed of sheep – merino. It is known for its fine fibers, very pleasant to the touch – smooth and soft, and also maintains a temperature balance: it is not cold in winter and not hot in summer. The merino wool fabric repels dirt and odors, absorbing liquids and leaving the skin dry. This wool is also very practical. Unlike many other types of wool, merino fabric lasts longer, does not wear out despite its thinness, and does not require complicated maintenance. Since sheep’s wool is covered with a thin layer of wax – lanonin, which has a beneficial effect on health – merino products can be used even for small children. However, the process of its production is more complicated due to the need to purify it from natural fats. This is a labor-intensive process, which makes merino wool more expensive than other types.

Cotton is made from natural airborne fiber extracted from cotton. It is believed that the characteristics of the fabric depend on the length of the fiber itself – long threads of plant origin indicate high quality material. Most often, cotton clothes are worn in the spring-summer season, as the products are light and well ventilated.

Viscose is a fiber that is also called a natural synthetic because it is created by processing, but from wood pulp. Even before the creation of viscose, people divided all fabrics into two types: exclusively natural and synthetic, so with the invention of viscose, it was difficult to understand which of the two groups it belonged to. The material has a number of advantages. During production, viscose dyeing is much easier than, for example, cotton. At the same time, it is breathable and does not fade. The fiber is also not affected by static electricity and has good wear resistance. There are also disadvantages among all these advantages, but they can be easily avoided with care and regular maintenance. Viscose “borrowed” the ability to wrinkle easily from natural fabrics and cannot withstand washing at high temperatures. The most preferred mode in the washing machine for viscose items is delicate or manual.

The main properties of flax are absolute environmental friendliness, high thermal conductivity, wear resistance and strength, breathability, and minimal electrification. Linen fabrics are one of the few fabrics that are made from completely natural raw materials. Flax has valuable hygienic properties, such as the ability to remove heat and moisture. In hot weather, a person wearing linen clothes has a body temperature 3-4 degrees lower than in clothes made of other materials (especially synthetics). It has also been proven that wearing linen clothes prevents certain diseases, as linen has rare bacteriological properties – neither fungus nor bacteria can get along on it. This absolutely pure eco-friendly fiber is considered a natural antiseptic. Flax also kills germs and various infections, and wounds under flax bandages heal faster. Flax contains silica, which inhibits the development of bacteria.

Silk is widely known not only for its appearance but also for its origin. There is a legend that in China, a traitor was executed by the Empress for revealing the secret of silk production. The Chinese were the first to invent methods of using silkworm caterpillars and their fiber. The material itself is very similar in composition to human hair, and thanks to its properties, it has gained worldwide popularity. It is especially appreciated for its appearance. Despite its fragility, it is not easy to damage the fiber: it has high wear resistance and elasticity, absorbs liquid and does not burn. One of the main disadvantages of silk is its cost, but it is justified by the non-standard way of producing the thread itself and its properties.