Virgin Wool
Virgin Wool refers to both wool taken from a lamb's first shearing in which the fibers are the softest, and wool that has never been used, processed or woven, meaning this type of wool can come from an adult sheep.
THE BEST Natural Fibers Utilized in area rug production
Virgin Wool
Wool is the natural hair grown on sheep, it is comprised of a very important protein substance called keratin. Keratin is what gives wool it's natural luster, and it's stain resistant, and wear resistant properties. Wool is composed of carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen. It is also the only animal fiber, which contains sulfur. The outside surface of the fiber consists of a series of serrated scales, which overlap each other much like the scales of a fish. Wool is the only fiber with such serration’s which make it possible for the fibers to cling together and produce felt.
Why is this important?
The earliest use of wool was not to make decorative carpets, it was used as clothing to protect people from the elements. Later wool was determined to be useful for sleeping blankets, then came the use as decorative textiles.
Breeding conditions, weather, food, and the particular geographic location where the sheep graze affects the characteristics of wool. For example exposure to torrential rain can dry out the natural oils in wool. But frigid, severe cold conditions, like the weather found in the mountainous regions of Nepal, produces stronger and denser fibers. Wool is classified in two different ways;
A.) By the sheep from which it is obtained
B.) By fleece (Quality)
Classification by Sheep
Wool is classified according to the sheep from which it is sheared as given below:
Merino Wool: Originally sourced from Spain, New Zealand and Australia are now leading suppliers of Merino wool.
- These fibers are very supple and strong and require very little processing. Due to this the integrity of the fiber is not compromised, and the keratin content makes the fiber strong and stain resistant.
- Merino wool is used in finer quality rugs.
Class – Two Wool: This class of sheep originates from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.
- The fibers are comparatively strong, fine, and elastic and range from 2 to 8 inches (50 – 200mm) in length.
- They have a large number of scales per inch and have good crimp.
Class – Three Wool: This class of sheep originates from United Kingdom.
- The fibers are coarser and have fewer scales and less crimp when compared to earlier varieties of wool fibers and are about 4 to 18 inches long.
- They are smoother, and are more lustrous.
- These wool are less elastic and resilient.
- They are of good quality, used for clothing.
Class – Four Wool: This class is a group of mongrel sheep sometimes referred to as half-breeds.
- The fibers are very coarse.
- This wool is less desirable, with the least elasticity and strength. It is used mainly for low end hand tufted carpets, rugs.
Dead Wool: This is the wool obtained from the sheep that have died of age or accidentally killed. This type of wool fiber should not be confused for pulled wool. Dead wool fiber is decidedly inferior in grade; it is used in low-grade cloth.
Silk
Silk is a fine continuous protein fiber produced by various insect larvae usually for making their cocoons. The silk in most rugs is a lustrous tough elastic fiber produced by silkworms.
Silk
Raw Silk
The Silk fiber contains a naturally occuring layer called silk gum, or sericin. Silk gum is dull and stiff. Silk with all of its gum is termed raw silk.
Wild Silk / Occurring naturally
Wild silkworms produce tussah silk. Tussah Silk is usually not white, it is pale, and is sometimes brown and/or grey. It is usually coarser than cultivated silk.
Bombyxmori silk Cultivated
It is also known as mulberry silk which is produced by domesticated silkworm raised on diet of mulberry leaves almost exclusively softer, finer and more lustrous than tussah silk. This silk produces shades of white product.
Reeled silk or Thrown silk:
It is term for silk fiber that is unwound from the silkworm cocoon. It is the most fine silk, the fibers are very long, shiny and of great strength. This is silk that is spun out of the cocoon in one continuous strand, it is the strongest type of silk.
Unreeled Silk
Unlike Reeled Silk, Unreeled Silk is the product of damaged cocoons that are placed in vats and allowed to ferment. As the solution ferments the damaged cocoons burst. The tangled silk fibers are then processed and spun. This type of silk is weakened by the process of fermentation and loses much of it's natural resiliency.
Viscose is a natural "silk like" fiber
The raw material for viscose is cellulose, derived mainly from wood pulp (trees are 50% cellulose), which is broken down either mechanically or chemically and reformed into fibers. Viscose has become popular for a number of reasons, most importantly its luxurious look and feel yet affordable price. Viscose is versatile and blends easily with other fibers. It is easily dyed and retains vivid colors particularly well. It is renowned for its silk like luster, appealing drape and superior softness to cotton.
Bamboo Silk is another natural "silk like" fiber
This is a fairly new type of silk in the rug market, and it’s growing quickly in popularity. Bamboo is a simple plant to grow and is considered an easily renewable resource. Stalks can grow over 70 feet in a single year and require no replanting. Since it’s so easy to grow, this is a more affordable material than traditional silk, especially if you want a large area rug.
Cotton
Cotton today is the most used textile fiber in the world. Its current market share is 56 percent for all fibers used for apparel and home furnishings and sold in the U.S. Another contribution is attributed to nonwoven textiles and personal care items. The earliest evidence of using cotton is from India and the date assigned to this fabric is 3000 B.C. There were also excavations of cotton fabrics of comparable age in Southern America. Cotton cultivation first spread from India to Egypt, China and the South Pacific.
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