Change text size?

Wild Fibres natural fibres > animal fibres

Animal Fibres - sheep & other animals

Animal Fibres from sheep, alpaca, camels, rabbits, goats & silk moths

Sheep are the principal source of natural animal fibre and there are more than 200 breeds of sheep worldwide. The largest number of breeds in one country is in Britain, with around 65. Read more about these on the sheep breeds page.

According to Wikipedia, wool is fibre derived from the fur of animals of the Caprinae family – sheep and goats, especially sheep, and for many it is only fibre from sheep. Unlike silk, it is formed of the protein ‘keratin’ and it has two qualities that distinguish it from hair or from fur: it has overlapping scales and it is crimped. Read more about wool here.

Very many other animals produce important and useful fibre for weaving, spinning and dyeing, however, including, alpaca, camels, goats and rabbits, as well as insects that produce silk. Read more about fibre from alpaca and camels here, and angora, mohair and cashmere from rabbits and goats here.

Silk is an important and ancient luxury fibre with a celebrated history, produced by both cultivated Mulberry silkworms and by wild silkmoths of many species. Read more about silk, silkmoths and silkworms here.

Top of page

Delivery charges in the UK

Delivery in Europe & rest of World here

Last updated on 25 July 2019
Website and photos by Mike Roberts © 2008-19 Wild Fibres