The New WOOL

When we conceptualize WOOL, we usually think of warm and fluffy yarn made from countryside sheep. But what if we said that luxurious blankets and minimalist sweaters can be made with the contribution of our beloved dogs that happily live in our city apartments and private houses?

Let us introduce Chiengora. It is a new and sustainable type of wool spun from the brushed-out undercoat of double-coated dogs. Chiengora’s name derives from the French language, where ‘chien’ refers to a dog, and ‘gora’ refers to ‘angora,’ rabbit hair. The sensory and functional qualities of the chiengora yarn are similar to the ones of cashmere and angora, as the chiengora yarn is soft to the touch and warm to wear. In fact, it is 80% warmer than sheep wool.

Although chiengora might seem like a new, still unknown textile, the hand-spinning of dog hair appeared as an ancient form of art in pre-historic Scandinavia. It was also used as the primary fiber on the North American continent before the Spaniards introduced sheep wool. Friendly Textiles innovates the textile industry by introducing the industrial spinning of chiengora, a high-quality alternative to other traditionally spun wools. 

Chiengora is a sustainable and 100% animal cruelty–free yarn because of its natural and renewable resources. The fiber is collected during dogs’ daily grooming routines and from the fallen hair during shedding season that otherwise would go to the vacuum cleaners and waste bins. It is essential to note that no dogs are specially bred or harmed for wool production.

In the face of the climate crisis, emphasizing new and sustainable materials is essential. Fibers like chiengora wool can positively influence the textile industry as it can be used in knitting, weaving, and felting even to an industrial extent.