haircloth

thumb|Horsehair crinoline, 1840s (MET) Haircloth is commonly understood as a stiff, unsupple fabric made from coarse fibre from camelids, bovines, horses, goats, rabbits, hares and reindeers. However, a softer variation is valued in the textile and fashion industries for their rarity, aesthetics and comfort. This is because there are two types of hair used in making haircloth; a rougher outer “guard coat”, and a softer undercoat. The outer coats are used in coarse fabrics, often applied to upholstery, carpets, underskirts and hairshirts, or cilices, while "luxury fabrics" use the softer undercoat.

==Description== Haircloth is woven or knitted with fibres of uncommon animal varieties, including the following: Mohair from the Angora goat, originating from Turkey. Cashmere comes from the Himalayan cashmere goat of Central and Southwestern Asia. It is mostly produced in China, and is a popular Scottish knitting yarn. Cashmere from the Indian sub-continent is referred to as Pashmina. The fibres of Pashmina come from Changthangi goats of Jammu and Kashmir, in Leh and Ladakh. Cashgora, a mix of Cashmere and Angora fibres, produced mainly in New Zealand. Pygora, a mix of the Pygmy and Angora goat, raised for hand-spinning in Dalla, Canada. Angora silk comes from the Angora rabbit, also known as "silk Rabbits", from Ankara, Turkey. It is farmed in France, England, Germany and China for its hair. thumb|Vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) in [[Peru. ]] Common Goat hair produced mainly in Greece and Argentina. Reindeer hair from Scandinavia, Chiengora, or dog hair is being explored as an alternative fibre for sustainable fashion. However, due to inefficient procurement and production methods, the fibre has yet to be adopted industrially. Vicuña comes from the fur of a South American Camelid, the vicuña. It’s fibre is soft and insulating but short and difficult to procure. It's rarity is reflected in the price of its wool and yarn.