Editing Mohair (section)

==History==
Mohair is one of the oldest textile fibers in use, produced exclusively in Turkey.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mohair {{!}} Animal Fibre, Textile Yarn & Clothing Fabric {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/mohair |access-date=2025-01-27 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> Fabric made of mohair was known in England by the early 18th century.<ref name=1911EB />
The word "mohair" was adopted into English sometime before 1570 from the Arabic: ''mukhayyar'',<ref name="OED">"Mohaire". ''The Oxford English Dictionary''.</ref> a type of haircloth, literally "choice", from ''khayyara'', "he chose".<ref name=1911EB>"Mohair". ''The Encyclopædia Britannica.'' 11th ed. 1911.</ref>

In about 1820, raw mohair was first exported from Turkey to England, which then became the leading manufacturer of mohair products. The [[Yorkshire]] mills spun yarn that was exported to Russia, Germany, Austria, etc., as well as woven directly in Yorkshire.<ref name=1911EB />

Until 1849, the Turkish province of Ankara was the sole producer of Angora goats. [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]] is believed to be the first to bring Angora goats to Europe. Due to the great demand for mohair fiber, throughout the 1800s there was a great deal of crossbreeding between Angora goats and common goats. The growing demand for mohair further resulted in attempts on a commercial scale to introduce the goat into South Africa (where it was crossed with the native goat) in 1838, the United States in 1849, Australia from 1856 to 1875, and later still New Zealand.<ref name=1911EB /> In 1849, Angora goats made their way to America as a gift from Turkey.

During the [[1960s in fashion|1960s]], a blend of mohair and wool suiting fabric known as Tonik or Tonic was developed in England. This had a shiny, color-changing appearance and was popular among [[rude boy]]s and the [[mod subculture]].<ref>[http://www.gentlemansgazette.com/mohair-fabric-guide/ Gentlemans Gazette]</ref> Similar suits were worn by [[mod revival]]ists, [[skinhead]]s, and fans of [[ska punk]] and [[two tone music]] during the [[1980s in fashion|early to mid-1980s]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=iesWzLHb_GUC&dq=two%20tone%20mohair%20suit&pg=PA281 Chanting down Babylon]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=j4KsBwAAQBAJ&dq=two%20tone%20mohair%20suit&pg=PA660 American counterculture]</ref>

Today South Africa is the largest mohair producer in the world, with the majority of South African mohair being produced in the [[Eastern Cape]]. The United States is the second-largest producer, with the majority of American mohair being produced in [[Texas]]. Turkey also produces good-quality mohair. Because the goats are sheared once a year (different from South Africa), Turkey produces the longest mohair of the world.

In December 2006 the [[General Assembly of the United Nations]] proclaimed 2009 to be the [[International Year of Natural Fibres]], so as to raise the profile of mohair and other [[natural fiber]]s.