For the love of mohair

In an industry with a history of sustainability and ethics, one thing stands out more than anything else: love.

Soft, luxurious, warm and timeless. It’s difficult to imagine mohair as anything other than a lovely scarf, but the fact is, the true story behind its production is almost as beautiful - and very important to the South African economy.

Mohair is a fibre derived from the fleece of Angora goats and the industry supports more than 800 South African farms and an estimated 30,000 dependents. Fifty percent of the world’s mohair is produced in SA, under strict guidelines of sustainability that have been in continual development since 2009.

It’s all about the goats

Aside from the numbers, though, it’s all about the goats. These gentle, somewhat charismatic creatures are at the heart of a farming industry that is driven by ethics and expertise. Angora farmers have a deep understanding of their goats that only a farmer who loves his animals can have. They’re a passionate bunch who regard the well-being of their livestock as an abiding commitment that is beyond question.

Many of South Africa’s Angora farms have been in production for more than a century, with knowledge and skills passed down through generations. As such, mohair production in SA is as much a commercial enterprise as it is a family legacy. Of course, profitability is important, too, and is intrinsically linked to how the goats are treated and cared for.

A 10-year history of sustainability

Sustainability is vital to the industry. Mohair SA has been developing processes to manage and monitor the production of mohair since as far back as 1999.

Beginning with unique producer numbers to monitor production statistics, the launch of the Sustainable Guidelines and farm assessments in 2009, and the appointment of a full-time sustainability officer in 2015, Mohair SA’s sustainability programme is in continual evolution. It is designed to respond to new findings and critical environmental factors, making necessary improvements as time goes by.

Today, the programme includes the development of a digital application to capture and analyse Angora farm data, as well as third-party audits that can track mohair fleece from farm to production.

Accreditation programme

As part of this evolution, 2019 will see Mohair SA and industry stakeholders drive a stringent shearing accreditation programme to ensure the industry continues to maintain and improve, as well as ensure the continued ethical treatment of its Angora goat livestock.

Mohair SA has further illustrated the country’s commitment to building a sustainable and ethical mohair sector through its engagement with Textile Exchange. Textile Exchange is a global non-profit organisation that works closely with international members to drive industry transformation in preferred fibres, integrity and standards, and responsible supply networks.

Textile Exchange has spent the past few months scoping SA’s existing mohair Industry Sustainable Guidelines against other standards, particularly the Responsible Wool Standards. In October, at its Annual Sustainability Conference in Milan, it announced that mohair will be included in the revision process of the Responsible Wool Standards.

Deon Saayman, Mohair SA MD, said: “We will continue our commitment to producing a sustainable fibre that can be used with confidence and assurance of ethical practices.”

When you buy South African mohair, you’re not just buying a scarf, a coat or a jersey. You’re enabling sustainable, ethical farming practices. You’re ensuring that thousands of South Africans are able to get up and go to work every day. You’re supporting the farmer who loves his goats. It doesn’t get any simpler, or better, than that.

Visit www.mohair.co.za for more information.

This article was paid for by Mohair SA.