Is mohair ethical? Although harvesting mohair rarely jeopardizes the angora goat’s longevity or overall well-being, it’s driven primarily by money—therefore, it’s unethical. Humans have no incentive to breed and care for angora goats outside their mohair.
That’s the gist of it. But there’s much more to explore here. Let’s take a look at the ethics of the mohair industry.
What is mohair, and where does it come from?
Mohair is the yarn or hair from the Angora goat, native to the Angora region of Turkey. Not to be mistaken for angora fibre that comes from the angora rabbit.
Mohair is a durable, naturally elastic, flame-resistant, and crease-resistant fibre. It’s comparable to cashmere, angora, and silk in price; it’s even more costly than most sheep’s wool.
The history of angora goat farming can be traced back to the early 18th century, when the animals were first imported from Turkey to England.
By the mid-19th century, angora goats had become an essential part of the European textile industry, and their hair was highly prized for its softness and strength.
In the years since, angora goat farming has spread to countries worldwide, and the animals are now an important source of fibre.
Adult Angora goats produce approximately 11 to 17 pounds (5-8 kilograms) of mohair each year, making them one of the most efficient fibre-producing animals.
Unlike other types of wool, mohair is very soft and has a silky texture. It’s often combined in high-end fabrics such as silk, satin, and velvet.
Mohair is also highly durable, making it ideal for use in rugs, carpets, and upholstery.
How large is the mohair industry?
Angora goat farming is practised in more than 30 countries, with South Africa accounting for 50% of the global mohair supply. There are approximately 859,000 goats in South Africa, producing 7.9 million pounds (3.6 million kilograms) of mohair each year.
The United States is the second-largest mohair producer, with Texan ranchers raising the majority of angora goats in the country.
The mohair industry has faced challenges in recent years due to changing fashion trends and concerns about animal welfare. Fashion retailers like Zara and H&M stopped using mohair in their garments after animal rights groups raised concerns about animals on South African farms.
Footage was captured of workers dragging goats by their horns and legs, then hoisting them up by their tails. The goats scream in several instances while they are sheared. Additionally, farmworkers were seen flinging goats across the floor.
Despite this, demand for luxury garments made from natural fibres is on the rise again, ensuring that mohair will continue to be an important part of the global textile industry.
Is harvesting mohair cruel to animals?
The angora goat was initially bred and domesticated for its coat. However, over time, the goats were selectively bred for higher mohair yields, which led to a dramatic increase in moulting.
In the wild, angora goats shed their coats naturally every spring and fall. But domesticated goats now shed their coats year-round, resulting in a need for regular shearing.
If left unshorn, the goats would eventually become entangled in their hair, leading to serious health problems. So regular shearing is an integral part of angora goat care.
Like shearing wool from sheep, there are varying levels of cruelty when obtaining mohair, depending on the farm.
Some farms use humane methods of shearing, such as electric clippers, which cause minimal animal discomfort. Other farms still use the traditional way of shearing, which involves pulling the hair from the goat’s body with metal combs. This can be extremely painful for the goats and is often done without sedatives or pain relief.
Additionally, many angora goats are confined to small pens or cages their entire lives and are never allowed to graze or roam freely. This is done to prevent the animals from getting tangled in their hair and make shearing easier.
The cramped, unnatural living conditions can cause significant stress for the goats, leading to health problems.
Of course, this is one side of the spectrum. There are many farms that have excellent animal welfare standards, where the goats are well-cared for and treated humanely.
So, is mohair ethical?
Angora goats are primarily used for mohair production, not meat or milk. So farmers are incentivised to keep their goats for their natural life expectancy of 10-12 years. This is a positive outcome compared to cashmere goats or sheep, where the animal’s lifespans are cut short due to the co-production of meat and dairy.
Furthermore, despite some odd negligent behaviour, Angora goats are rarely harmed when getting shorn. It’s not too dissimilar to dog grooming. So on the surface, it doesn’t appear that there’s anything unethical about mohair.
But we also need to consider the economics here. Besides profiting from goat hair, humans aren’t motivated to breed and keep angora goats. The relationship is founded on profits, not companionship.
Sure, farmers may develop a bond with their goats later, but that relationship doesn’t exist without a monetary incentive. From a vegan perspective, breeding animals in a domestic situation for profit isn’t ethical.
Some small-scale farms raise their animals with care and compassion. But even on these farms, the animals are ultimately exploited for income. That’s the primary purpose of their existence.
And as long as there’s a demand for mohair, there will always be farmers breeding and keeping angora goats.
Is there such a thing as cruelty-free or vegan-friendly mohair?
Fundamentally, no—mohair will always be a product of animal exploitation. You could push the boundaries and try to source mohair from angora goats in animal sanctuaries, but even that seems like an extreme effort to access a fibre you don’t need.
Another option is buying second-hand mohair products. This is a great way to reduce your impact and avoid supporting the animal agriculture industry.
But if you’re looking for a brand new, vegan-friendly product, mohair isn’t the fibre for you. Many other options, such as viscose, bamboo, and organic cotton, don’t involve animals.
Do you think supporting mohair is cruel?
Breeding animals and domesticating goats for profit isn’t ethical. So if you’re looking to avoid all animal products, be mindful of mohair. There are plenty of other options that don’t involve directly exploiting animals.
What do you think about the mohair industry? Let us know in the comments below.
Dear Minimalist Vegan , Whilst as a Vegan myself I agree on some points, I would like to raise a few thoughts , whilst I totally agree that some wool and Mohair production is un ethical this falls in the largest part in the category of large scale commercial farming, When I decided to go from vegetarian to vegan 20 years ago I worked in the arts and crafts industry organizing events for Artists and Makers I also ran a shop and Gallery selling hand made and as ethically sourced things as was possible particularly Natural fiber textiles, , I knitted and spun , At the point of deciding to go vegan I had the choice either to ban all artists using what might be considered non vegan materials , to close down the fairs, or to decide to use the platform to actually educate people ..of course I chose the latter, I had two contributors apart from my self who used Wool , one bought only from small local organic flocks, of course this meant that animal welfare was already a priority it must also be considered that these are small rural farms most of whom keep small flocks and are very proud of what they produce and on the whole theses farmers absolutely care about the animals , they actually love them just as many do their pets, the second lady bread sheep for the wool and also kept Goats I met them personally they were happy, healthy and lived a life of riley, so would you if you lived rent free and all you had to do was eat bracken ( which they love ) and share your fleece yearly which was not taken unkindly but sheered with care , for this trade of the sheep and the Goats got acres of beautiful Welsh country side to roam freely in , they got free health care ‘Homeopathy’ not chemical! Now If I as a Vegan decided to boycott this rather than to support it then I would just have been being foolishly self righteous, and no one benefits from this kind of stand off , I had another knitter who used Bamboo and some of the new alternative fibers , but personally as an environmentalist there are problems with this as to extract the fibers the processing entails a lot of chemical or environmentally detrimental processes, so No the answer is not in the new alternatives , ..it is in educating people to buy only ethically sourced wool from reputable caring local farms, and to be prepared to pay a fair price, paying a fair price will allow the good farmers to ern a living and have enough money to actually care for their animals , Ok we have to accept that some of theses farmers are meet eaters , we must not forget that meat eating is the cultural norm for the farming community , there will be change but we have to let it come natural through education not attack or boycott, that is no way to make friends or to be listened to .
We have to be prepared to work together, avoiding the temptation to tar all with the same brush, we have to be intelligent and to an extent tolerant.. and as far as the subject of Minimalism goes, I am with you on that one too we use and waste too much, as a culture we have fallen for the consumerist lifestyle hook line and sinker, …we need to adjust our thinking we need to be prepared to pay a fair price for locally produced food and goods which we will have to accept will cost more especially if we expect an ethically produced quality product then we look after what we have we value it and make it last this is respect all round not just for Animals but for the Environment and for people too . if positive change is to happen respect all round is the only way .
Not only do you not understand what the term ethical means, but you make so many ridiculous assumptions here, and it’s shocking that you don’t realize that this is why so many people don’t like vegetarians or vegans. You have no idea what you’re talking about, and try to dictate how others who actually spend their lives with these animals think and feel about them. This makes it seem like you haven’t ever even been around much less taken care of or bonded with any animal that wasn’t a common pet, especially considering the outright asinine notion that someone won’t care about an animal unless it’s making a profit. Furthermore, stop trying to use buzzwords like “exploitation” in an attempt to misconstrue information that will get people to support your ignorant outlook, every living thing exploits and manipulates to world around it to survive, to live. That’s called life. The plants you eat (which also are aware of their surroundings, and are able to understand that you’re destroying them by harvesting them for food consumption) exploit the sun and minerals in the soil to sustain themselves, just as you exploit the plants, just as predators, scavengers, and again, even multiple plant species exploit other living creatures for food. Life is life, these things are intrinsically equivalent, and trying to act superior when you’re so obviously uneducated and uninformed on this subject only draws support from other ignorant people, hence why you’re presenting blatant falsehoods to keep them ignorant instead of actually encouraging them to learn, something you need to do more of yourself. No, plenty of people treat livestock, including angora goats, in an entirely ethical and even more, a loving and caring manner, whereas I imagine that you spend no time supporting or helping any animals whatsoever. You’re a hypocrite, and a particularly awful person for trying to spread ridiculous lies on top of it. Instead of trying to pass judgement on things you have no experience with, actually put yourself in these situations and see what reality is like, grow up and expand your understanding of the world instead of trying to openly degrade others with falsehoods. The difference between an animal that is nurtured and supported and one that’s neglected or abused is immediately apparent if you had ever spent time with these animals. You’re the textbook definition of a poser, and you’re going to inevitably cause more harm to animals, including human beings, than you’ll help by spreading completely incorrect information to others. You should be ashamed of yourself for such pathetic behavior, and your entire perception of the treatment of angora goats in particular is woefully and laughably false, which again, is quite obvious to anyone who actually spends time with these animals and puts in the effort to take care of them while you pretend as if you’re doing right by these animals, and the people who read this insane drivel, with a keyboard. What an absolute joke, you’re genuinely part of the problem when it comes to misinformation and your website should be taken down if this is the content you produce. Although it will likely be more trouble than someone like you is worth, I’m very much considering making your horribly fake insight into these matters known to others, you deserve to lose your outlet for nonsensical accusations posthaste
“ Additionally, many angora goats are confined to small pens or cages their entire lives and are never allowed to graze or roam freely.”
This is not true.
In South Africa the goats roam freely and are only placed in a pen when it’s shearing time or if it is cold and rainy weather.