Collection: Mohair Sweaters
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Made in ItalyMade in ItalyGray openwork mohair and lurex knit sweater with short sleevesUsual price €139,00Usual priceUnit price by -
Navy blue openwork sweater in mohair and lurex knit with short sleevesUsual price €119,00Usual priceUnit price by
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Black mohair sweater for women with high collarUsual price €89,00Usual priceUnit price by
Women's Mohair Sweater: Halo, Luster, and Properties of Angora Goat Fiber
The "halo" of mohair: these soft fibers that seem to float around the sweater are not a defect but a physical property of the Angora goat fiber. The external structure of mohair fiber is smooth (no scales like wool) which gives it a characteristic luster. The fine fibers (24-26 µm) do not stay in the twist of the yarn and project outward: this is the halo. This same property (non-anchored fibers) is also why mohair sheds fibers onto other garments.
Mohair fiber comes from the Angora goat (not the Angora rabbit: two distinct animals). It has a smooth external surface, without scales: unlike wool whose scaly surface catches fibers together (this is what allows felting). This smooth surface gives it a natural luster superior to wool (close to silk) and makes the yarn "slippery": the fibers do not stay firmly in the twist and project outward, creating the characteristic halo. Kid mohair (goat under 6 months): fibers of 23-25 µm: the softest and most haloed. Adult mohair: fibers of 26-30 µm: less soft but more voluminous. Brushed mohair (passed through a brush machine after knitting) has a denser halo than unbrushed mohair.
The warmth of a textile is determined by the amount of air trapped between the fibers: air is the best thermal insulator. Mohair, thanks to its halo, traps an exceptional amount of air for its weight: a fine mohair sweater (150-180 g) warms as much as a wool sweater of 300-350 g. This warmth-to-weight ratio is even better than that of cashmere. In practice: a mohair sweater is the optimal choice for harsh winters or travel where weight is constrained: maximum warmth for minimal bulk. Mohair is also the fiber that "bounces back" best after compression (travel bag): the halo stands up on its own.
The main practical constraint of mohair: its fibers transfer onto clothes worn next to or over it. A dark coat worn over a white mohair sweater will collect white fibers. A blazer worn over a colored mohair sweater will retain traces. This is not a defect: it is a structural property of the halo. Solutions: wear mohair as an outer layer (not under a coat), or choose the mohair color close to that of the coat (invisible transfer), or brush the coat with an adhesive roller after wearing. Mohair blend sweaters (mohair + silk, the most common: 70% mohair 30% silk) have a more controlled halo because silk stabilizes the fibers.
Pure mohair sweater: maximum halo, very voluminous, the softest but also the most "invasive" in terms of transfer. Difficult to knit in fine mesh without elastane. Mohair + silk sweater (70/30 or 80/20): silk stabilizes the fibers and reduces transfer. The feel is different: silk brings a cold luster where pure mohair has a fluffier feel. The mohair-silk blend is generally more expensive than pure mohair because silk is more expensive. Mohair + wool sweater: thicker, less refined, less luster. Mohair + acrylic sweater: cheaper, less soft, similar halo but less fine. To identify quality: mandatory composition label. "Mohair" without % can be a blend with very little mohair.
Washing: hand only (mohair felts less quickly than wool thanks to its smooth surface, but still felts with heat and machine agitation). Cold water, delicate product without enzymes. Press without wringing. Dry flat: never hang (the weight of wet mohair stretches the piece considerably). Storage: flat or rolled in tissue paper: do not hang on a hanger (shoulder stretching). After each wear: gently shake the sweater to "reconstitute" the halo. Pills on a mohair sweater are rare because the smooth fibers do not catch on each other: but if they appear, do not use a lint stone (too aggressive for mohair): use a lint razor very lightly.
For other warm sweaters without halo: cashmere sweaters. For basic office sweaters: black sweaters or white sweaters. To understand mohair material in detail: material index. For mohair cardigans: sweaters and cardigans.
FAQ: Women's Mohair Sweater
Why does a mohair sweater shed fibers on other clothes?
It is a structural property: the mohair fiber has a smooth surface (without scales) that creates the characteristic halo. These fibers not anchored in the twist of the yarn easily transfer to surfaces in contact. It is not a defect: it is inherent to mohair. Solution: wear mohair as an outer layer (not under a coat), choose a mohair of a color close to the coat, or brush the coat with a lint roller after wearing. Mohair-silk blends have a more controlled halo.
What is the difference between mohair and cashmere?
Mohair (Angora goat): visible halo, shiny luster, exceptional warmth-to-weight ratio, less soft than grade A cashmere to the touch, longer fibers. Cashmere (Changthangi goat): no halo, feather-like touch, lighter, more expensive at equivalent quality. Mohair "holds" shape better (long and smooth fibers), cashmere is more "silent" (no transfer). For maximum light warmth: both are excellent. For a sober office use: cashmere. For an expressive winter look: mohair.
Can a mohair sweater be machine washed?
Not recommended: risk of felting even on wool program (residual heat and agitation are sufficient). Hand wash mandatory: cold water, delicate product without enzymes, press without wringing, dry flat. Wet mohair is very heavy and stretches if hung: always dry flat.