Luster, softness, and lightness are the characteristics of camel wool, a highly prized fiber used in the textile and apparel industry. The camel, raised in Central and Southeast Asia, particularly in Mongolia, China, and the Gobi Desert, has two coats: the outer layer composed of guard hairs, the coarser fibers, and the duvet, which features fine, soft hair from which the luxurious raw material is obtained.
Thanks to their long, lustrous coat, they provide us with a high-quality natural fiber: the most common color is golden with shades ranging from red to light brown, while the white color, called albino, is extremely rare and highly prized. The fiber is used in its natural state without undergoing dyeing processes.
Among its main qualities, the fiber exhibits remarkable thermostatic properties, which allow it to insulate the camel from mountain cold and protect it from desert heat. Camel fabric is thus the perfect ally for winter, as it can absorb warm air and body moisture, promoting physical well-being.
The camel has accompanied mankind for millennia: it appeared in North America approximately 45 million years ago and then migrated to Europe and Asia, where for centuries it served as a means of transport along the trade routes between East and West. In the 17th century, camel hair began to be processed for the creation of fine fabrics, but it only reached its peak popularity in the 1800s thanks to polo on horseback. In England, the camel wool jackets worn by players would become a symbol of elegance, to the point of being worn even off the field. Over the years, camel wool has seen multiple practical uses, but its preciousness finds its highest expression in the creation of premium fabrics.
During winter, the Bactrian camel develops a long, thick coat. The quantity and quality of the hair depend on the habitat in which the animal lives: camels living in warm, more temperate zones tend to have coarser hair compared to those living in cold environments, which instead have finer, thicker hair.
Only 700 grams of fiber per year are obtained from each specimen: this makes it precious and extremely expensive.
Collection takes place in spring, the season when the camel naturally sheds its coat, thus avoiding more invasive techniques such as shearing. Subsequently, the animal is brushed: through combing, the most prized hairs, those of the undercoat, are separated from the coarser ones, which typically cover the outer layer.
Once collection is complete, the fiber is washed and subjected to a process called “dehairing,” which removes vegetable matter and less valuable hairs, thus preparing it for processing. At this point, the fiber is ready to be spun and woven: the resulting fabric is soft, warm, and precious.
Contact us now! We will respond as soon as possible via email to schedule a call and answer all your inquiries.
Our team is available to assist you in selecting and designing the fabrics best suited to your needs.
Fill out the form and we will be happy to help you
Error: Contact form not found.