fabric

Camel Hair

Camels come in 2 types: one-humped camels and two-humped camels. The hair of both types can be used to make fiber. Camels are widely raised in Mongolia, China, and Turkey, mostly used for transportation as pack animals, with camel hair being a byproduct. Camel hair helps protect the camel's body from both heat and cold — providing warmth when traveling in high mountains with cold weather, and not feeling hot when out in the middle of the desert. Camels shed their hair in spring; the hair, which clings to the body in tufts, gradually falls out while the camel rests periodically during its journey. Travelers collect it to sell. A single camel yields about 5 pounds (2.7 kg) of hair.

The shape of camel hair is well-aligned along its entire length. Under a microscope, scales are rarely visible; the tip of the fiber curves slightly, and the inner cell layer is grooved and colored, with visible gaps within the fiber occurring at intervals — a characteristic that differs from other types of animal hair. Most camel hair is fairly coarse, but attractive in appearance; the short hairs are soft and beautiful, with properties similar to sheep's wool and mohair. Fabric made from camel hair is notable for providing excellent warmth, while the coarser type of camel hair is often used in industrial factories to make conveyor belts, rope, and paintbrushes.