Mohair reveals itself up close. A fine halo softens the weave, while its subtle sheen gives color unusual depth. Warm and inviting, it retains a visible structure beneath its softness.
From Ankara to the wider world
Mohair comes from the Angora goat, a breed historically associated with present-day Ankara, Turkey. Over the nineteenth century, production expanded into South Africa and the United States. Today, South Africa’s Eastern Cape is one of the world’s leading mohair-producing regions.
The name carries its own history. Mohair can be traced to the Arabic mukhayyar, meaning “selected” or “choice.”
From fleece to fiber
Angora goats are generally shorn twice a year. Their fleece is sorted by fineness, length and color, then washed, carded and combed before being spun into yarn.
Kid mohair, taken from younger goats, is especially fine. The stronger fibers of mature goats lend structure and durability to heavier textiles.
Mohair is also commonly blended with wool and other natural fibers, balancing its luster and loft with different degrees of softness, weight and structure.
The source of mohair’s glow
Mohair fibers have a smoother surface than sheep’s wool, allowing them to reflect light more evenly. This creates the fiber’s characteristic sheen and gives color exceptional clarity and luminosity.
Mohair is also naturally strong, elastic and resilient. It holds its shape through use while retaining the warmth and movement that make it so well suited to the home.
A fiber shaped by place
The mohair found at Stella reflects the textile traditions of the places where each piece is made.
In New Zealand, pure fine mohair is woven and brushed into heirloom-quality throws with a generous pile and soft hand. Brushing lifts the fibers from the surface, bringing out their airy texture and natural warmth.
In Ezcaray, a mountain town in Spain’s La Rioja region, textile making has shaped local life for centuries. Mantas Ezcaray works with South African mohair, Australian merino wool and Mongolian cashmere, transforming them into blankets made to remain soft, warm and beautiful through years of use.
Many expressions of one material
Mohair may be best known for its softness, but that is only one part of its character.
It can feel light and airy or velvety and substantial. Brushed finishes bring out its feathery halo, while more structured weaves reveal its sheen and strength.
Across Stella’s collection, mohair takes shape through different traditions and techniques, from high-pile throws woven in New Zealand to richly colored blankets made in Spain. Together, they show how place, construction and finish can draw distinctly different qualities from the same remarkable fiber.
Find Your Color
Our brushed mohair throws are available to special order in 34 saturated shades. Contact us to view the full palette and choose the color that feels right for your space.
