Camel hair—often called camel wool—is a specialty animal fiber prized for its warmth, drape, and quiet luxury. Most premium camel hair comes from the Bactrian camel (the two-humped species) of Central and East Asia. These camels grow a dual coat: long, coarse guard hairs that protect the animal from weather, and a much finer, softer undercoat (the “down”) that spinners and weavers value for apparel. The down is typically a natural golden-tan, though it dyes readily much like sheep’s wool. Collection is relatively gentle compared with many other animal fibers. Each spring, Bactrian camels naturally molt, shedding both guard hair and down over a 6–8 week period. Herders gather tufts by hand, comb the animals, or in some cases shear; afterwards, the fiber is washed and “dehaired” to remove the coarse outer fibers so only the soft down remains for fine yarns. Typical annual yield per animal is a few kilograms of hair, of which only a fraction is the prized down, contributing to its relati...
https://youtube.com/shorts/yDDXSBP1YSA? feature=shared The Forbidden Luxury of the Himalayas There are fabrics that impress with shine, some that boast durability, and a few that carry the fragrance of history. Then there is Shahtoosh wool—a fabric whispered about in the same tone that rare jewels and forbidden treasures are discussed. It is not merely cloth; it is legend, controversy, and artistry woven into a gossamer web. The name itself comes from Persian roots: shah meaning "king," and toosh meaning "wool"—the “king of wools.” Unlike silk, which comes from the humble cocoon, or cashmere, which is harvested from domesticated goats, Shahtoosh has a far more secretive origin. It is spun from the underfur of the Tibetan antelope, or Chiru, a shy animal living at dizzying altitudes of the Changthang plateau in Tibet and Ladakh. Unlike sheep or goats, this creature cannot be sheared or combed safely for its wool. Historically, the only way to obtain Shahtoosh was ...