What is the first impression of wool?

It is pierced, not skin-friendly, the fabric is too thick, not suitable for the baby to wear.

But you know what?Wool can also be divided into many types, and good wool may be softer than clouds.

Today we will take you to understand the detailed knowledge of wool products.

1. Birth of Wool

A 1905 painting shows Tibetan residents turning wool

Archaeological evidence found at sites in Iran indicates that the use of wool may have begun around 6000 BC, with wool being introduced to Europe at the beginning of the 4th century BC.By the end of the 14th century, with the trade, Italy gradually became the leading country in the international wool market.

The merino, on the other hand, originated in 8th century Spain, where the locals saw the beauty of merino wool.In the late 18th century, Spain abolished a ban on the sale of sheep, and the merino sheep, a prized breed, was able to cross the ocean to Australia.

▲ Loro Piana's merino sheep, created in collaboration with Australian ranches

After that, farmers in Australia and New Zealand took sheep raising as the basis and took the production and export of high-quality wool as the main driving force of economic development.

Also, the best wool is produced in Australia, where most wool is sold in classified auctions to help get better quality wool fibers.Loro Piana, a well-known brand of wool products, has established a strong partnership directly with Australian pastures to produce more fine and high-quality wool.Merino wool produced in this way is also known as "The Gift Of Kings®".

In 2016, China has surpassed Australia as the largest producer of wool. The inner layer of wool collected from young goats living in northern China and Mongolia is world class cashmere.Cashmere is a kind of wool fiber, which has been produced in Kashmir of Asia for thousands of years. It is also the earliest place in history where precious goats were found.

2. You know what?Different sheep produce different wool

Bring Hircus small goat

Cashmere -- Cashmere especially refers to Cashmere, which is a thin layer of wool closest to the root of the coarse hair on the goat's body.

▲ merino sheep

Merino Wool -- Merino actually comes from the breed name of sheep, the Wool produced by Merino sheep, collectively known as Merino Wool.

▲ ordinary goat

Common Wool -- common Wool has many kinds, without specific name, unified called Wool.

▲ Angora goats

Mohair -- the hair that Angora goats wear.

Bring about alpaca

Alpaca -- natural fibers harvested from alpacas.And so on...

In this article, CHAOKIDS will focus on a few types of wool fibers that are suitable for your baby.

3. Why are the prices of different wool different?

The quality of wool depends on the diameter of the fiber, i.e. fineness, crimp, color and strength, but fineness is the most important factor in determining the price and quality of wool.

The fineness of wool is divided into microns, and all fibers under 25 microns can be used to make clothes. The smaller the value, the higher the count of quality (the highest count of wool of various fineness is called the count of quality), and the softer and more valuable the yarn will be.

In microns,

< 15.5 microfiber

15.6 -- 18.5 super grade fibers

18.6 -- 20 superior fibers

20.1 -- 23 medium fibre

> 23 tough fibers

Cashmere can reach the smallest 14~16 microns in animal fibers.

Merino wool is the most fine and light wool that can be obtained on the sheep except cashmere, generally under 24 microns.Divide into different count according to wool thickness, qualitative count is in 60 above, the finest can reach 80, belong to exceed fine wool.

The micron number of common wool is in 21 micron above commonly, count also greatly inferior to merino wool.

Crimp also corresponds to the fineness of wool fibers and is used as an important basis for evaluating wool quality.

Because the fibers curl, the wool products have more volume, allowing them to breathe through the gaps between the fibers, and the fabric can trap heat.

Fine wool like merino can have up to 100 curls per inch.

If the yarn is made of wool with a neat and uniform curl, it will feel like a cloud, which is very fluffy and elastic.

Because the surface of the fiber is covered with scales, it will affect the wool's ability to reflect light. The thinner the wool, the weaker the ability to reflect light, so the luster is softer.The thicker the wool, the stronger and brighter the luster.

Cashmere is the finest fiber, so it made of clothing, the more natural luster.

Strength refers to the ability of the fiber to resist fracture, and elongation refers to the length increased due to the action of fracture force.

Each kind of wool has a different breaking strength.

Under the same type of wool, the finer the wool, the smaller the strength, and the thicker the wool, the greater the strength.

The elongation of wool is high, the elongation can reach 20~50% in general, so the higher the elongation of wool, the better the wear resistance of finished products.

4. Wool choice

A. "soft gold"

Cashmere is the most luxurious fiber that can be obtained from sheep.

Although cashmere is also classified as wool, but compared with ordinary wool, cashmere is more slender, softer, thinner and softer, so it is especially suitable for making into close-fitting clothing to wear, and cashmere has a high natural curl, heat preservation performance is basically 1.5 to 2 times of wool, light and soft, very comfortable.Known as "soft gold".

Cashmere, however, is mostly short and delicate, allowing little wear.Therefore, appropriate attention should be paid to protection when wearing, in order to extend the life of cashmere products.

At present, China is the largest producer of original cashmere, but the global annual output of cashmere is only about 7,000 tons. Limited supply of raw materials and annual rising customer demand have also contributed to the high price of cashmere.

Therefore, the budget is enough treasure mother, the most recommended start is cashmere products, whether it is to wear the baby close-fitting sweater, or outer coat, warm enough and very light.Convenient baby can also be free movement in winter.

B. gift from Australia (Merino Wool)

It is the most valuable wool except cashmere, but not all merino sheep can produce wool suitable for clothing.

Australia's soil is home to 75 million merino sheep, but only 18 million produce wool smaller than 19 microns, which is a testament to its value.

Merino wool is an active fiber, like the second layer of human skin.

It traps heat in cold weather and transmits tiny amounts of sweat into the air on warm days. The microfiber regulates its temperature by sensing external changes in temperature.

Compared with cashmere, it is not easy to shrink the ball, easy to take care of, at the same time than ordinary wool feel more soft wag, do not stick the skin.

Merino wool is also a smart choice to give your baby a high quality of life.Although it is not as lightweight as cashmere, it is more durable than cashmere, more suitable for active babies to wear merino wool products, pants are less prone to wear, warmth and air permeability is not inferior.

C. most common (Wool)

Compared with cashmere and merino wool, ordinary wool mostly count low, feel relatively rough, poor insulation, but the price is much cheaper.

Ordinary wool is not very recommended treasure mother to choose for the baby, but compared with the above two materials, ordinary wool is more durable, in the purchase of wool sweater, can also give the baby alone with a piece of cotton clothing for the inside, let the baby more comfortable.

5.Wool care can be simple

Ordinary wool can easily become "small" if not washed carefully.Water is easy to shrink, the most reasonable way to clean is dry cleaning.It is recommended to buy a size larger than usual before purchase.Be sure to pay attention to the cleaning process so you don't get a shrunk-down sweater.

And cashmere will not shrink easily, compared to its care is a lot simpler, as long as the cashmere products on the special laundry bag can be washed machine (washing machine with special cashmere wool washing function).Note that only pure cashmere will not shrink.If you still don't trust, then you can buy common cashmere washing liquid on the market, soak for 2-5 minutes, gently squeeze, do not vigorously rub, and then remove the tile dry can be.

6. How to distinguish real wool?

Is there a pure WOOLMARK

Pure wool mark is the textile mark authorized by the international wool bureau, and also guarantees the quality and quality of wool products.

Only wool products with 100% wool content can have this pure wool mark.

Good quality cashmere sweater, feel light and smooth, ordinary wool is rough touch some people.

Generally y speaking, wool and cashmere products will have different degrees of pilling.

Because the scale of cashmere is thinner than wool, under the microscope, even light, fiber brightness, no shadow sense;And the scale of common wool is thick, transmittance is not even, downy main body feels much shadow.

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