Traditional Arts Using Animal Fibres

Animal fibers can be classified according to their chemical structures, the way they are obtained or their length.

1- According to chemical structure; Fibres with keratin (lambs wool, mohair, camelhair etc); Fibroid structure (silk from the silkworm)

2- According to the way they are obtained; Covering fibres (lamswool, mohair, camelhair, rabbit fleece etc); secreted substances like silk from the silkworm.

3- According to length; staple fibers, lamb and other wools, regenerated wools, chemical fibres (protein fibres); Filament fibres (silk from the silkworm, wastes).

Wool:

Lambs wool is the most important animal fiber used in the textile industry because of its long, thin and curly nature. Wool, which covers the skin of the lamb, is obtained by shearing and is turned into yarn after spinning. Excavations have revealed that in the Bronze Age even wool was being spun and woven. In the beginning, wool fibers were felted, and weaving began at a later date. These fibres are generally used in making rough cloths such as carpets, rugs and blankets.

Other wools are named after the animal concerned (rabbit wool, camel wool, llama wool). Wool from the llama, camel, Cashmere goat and Ankara goat are used in the textile industry.

Hairs:

These are hard, plain, straight fibres usually obtained from animals such as the horse, cow, goat and pig. These fibres are very hard to spin, so rough cloth and brushes are made from them. Cords (horse hair) and accessories for men’s clothes are made from these hairs.