Be Kul, not cruel

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Mohair?

  MOHAIR is an environmentally friendly alternative to real fur. It is sheared from the Angora Goat, spun into a yarn, woven into a cotton backing and custom hand dyed for the most luxurious animal friendly furs available in today's market. One of the oldest textile fibers in use today is Mohair. Mohair is one of the most soft, luxurious, durable and resilient animal fibers. Items made from Mohair are not only fashionable but also tough, wrinkle-resistant and difficult to ignite and known for their luster and shine. It is an all season fashion fiber that works as a natural lightweight insulator to keep you warm on cold days and breaths with the body to keep you cooler on warm days. It has moisture wicking properties that carry moisture away from the skin of the wearer. The long silky hair of the Angora Goat is sheared twice a year and spun into a yarn. The hair has characteristics that are similar to wool except that it does not have the scales that can irritate the skin like wool can. It has smooth fibers which gives it luster and shine and the luxury feel like cashmere, angora and silk. The hair won't shrink and is easy to care for. Mohair has been popular for home decor for many years due to its flame resistance, durability and high sound absorbency. It works very well for symphony halls, theaters, hotel lobbies, offices as well as for homes. Mohair drapes are great insulators to keep heat in during the cold weather and a barrier against outside hot temperatures in summer. The word Mohair comes from the Turkish word "muyhar", which is literally translated as "the best selected fleece". The original Mohair came from Turkey. The fabric was so valued that for hundreds of years they attempted to keep it a secret. Export of the Mohair fabric was banned and the Angora Goats were highly protected. Around 1820 the Angora Goats began to be exported to various regions of the world. They were introduced to the U.S. in 1849 as a gift from Turkey. During World War II, the United States became concerned about wool production, because military uniforms were made from wool. They decided to start blending Mohair with wool. This is how Mohair got it's start in fashion! Today most of the world's Mohair originates in South Africa. The United States is the second largest producer with it being a huge industry in Texas.  Mohair is a great fabric with a unique history. It's soft and luxurious to your skin and it's rich luster combined with great durability will give you a long lasting product. Adding one (or many!!) of our Mohair products to your wardrobe or home will give you a fashionable article of clothing or accessory that can be used for years to come. Mohair has been used for garments and wares since the 16th Century. So many redeeming qualities, it's no wonder we still use it today.

 

What is Alpaca?

  ALPACA is an environmentally friendly alternative to real fur. It is sheared from the Alpaca, spun into a yarn, woven into a cotton backing and custom hand dyed for the most luxurious animal friendly furs available in today's markets. The Alpaca's hair fibers are very similar to Mohair's. It is soft, durable, luxurious and naturally environmentally friendly. Similar to sheep's wool, it is warmer, not prickly and naturally does not contain lanolin which makes it more hypoallergenic than other natural animal hair fibers. Alpaca is naturally water-repellent and difficult to ignite. It is thermal, even when wet, and can resist the heat on a warm day making it an appropriate fabric to fight against changes in temperatures. Stronger and warmer than wool, Alpaca fur is a luxurious commodity that produces a naturally light weight insulating clothing or a durable long lasting accessory to your home. The Alpaca is a domesticated species of the South American Camelid and cousins to the llamas. Alpacas are considerably smaller than llamas and unlike llamas, Alpacas are not used as beasts of burden but are valued only for their hair fibers. Alpacas have been domesticated for thousands of years. They originally played an important role in the Ancient Incan culture where they were treasured for their soft fleece that was worn only by Incan Royalty. They are featured in many images of their art and considered an important part of their culture. The Alpaca was first brought to the United States in 1984. Today Alpacas have become a much loved investment for American farmers, animal lovers and investors. Alpacas are gentle animals that are agreeable with people. They are soft on the environment and naturally organic making Alpaca fur a truly green fabric. Alpacas are now being bred in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, U.K. and numerous other places. 

 

How do I care for my Kul Fur?

  Wash & Care Helpful Hints

  Mohair and Alpaca are truly exquisite fibers. They are delicate looking and feeling but are very durable and hard wearing. Like all high-end luxurious fibers they do require proper handling to insure the long lasting qualities they have. Shedding is a very natural part of having a fur product. All fur products will have some natural shedding, although Mohair and Alpaca have the least amount.

  To "fluff" up the fur on your products just lightly shake and run your fingers through it. This should also dislodge and loosen any dirt you might have gotten on it. You can use a very soft brush and gently brush the hair which will make your Mohair and Alpaca product very full, fluffy and soft to the touch and eye. If you are going to brush your product, we suggest doing it in a very small, not easy to see, place to make sure you like the look you will get with brushing your product. It is important that the Mohair and Alpaca be treated with care, gentle brushing rather than firm hard strokes is advised. This occasional fluffing of the furs will help maintain it's natural luster. Hang them outside in fresh air to freshen them up. If you need to get rid of a stain or wash your product to be safe we recommend taking your item to your local dry cleaner to have it professionally cleaned.

  If you are wanting to clean your products at home we can give you these suggestions. Always keep in mind all fabrics that were used to make your products and clean them accordingly to that fabrics specification meaning silk, acrylic, spandex, etc.

  Stains such as fruit juice and coffee need to be treated immediatley with a mild detergent or dry foam cleanser. Liquor and spirit stains should be treated with pure alcohol and when cleaned follow these directions for hand washing: wash in cold water with mild hand washing fabric detergent. Very gently squeeze by hand to work any dirt or stains free. Gently squeeze out - never pull or wring. Rinse in cold clean water (small amount of fabric softener can be used if desired) again gently squeeze out excess water - never pull or wring. Gently reshape and lay flat to dry. Once dry, give a gentle shake and run your hand or soft brush softly over it. If desired tumble dry on as low and gentle cycle as possible, like air fluff, to fluff product. Again keep in mind other fabrics used for your products and follow their care instructions carefully. Any irregularities in the pile may be solved by steaming. Use either an iron or steamer held approximately 6" away from fur then gently "brush" fur back into original directional flow. Other recommendations: We recommend storing your products in a cool dry place and not in plastic. Do not spray perfume directly on garment, especially if it is light in color.