Angora rabbit wool?

[Tracy G]

Hmmm... Not long ago, I received a catalog which offers a sweater made of "a sumptuously soft blend of cruelty-free Angora and organic cotton." The text further explains that "Angora wool is eight times warmer than sheep wool and it's continuously renewed. Gently harvested during the natural molting process, the Angora rabbit is never harmed in giving us its wonderful fiber." This is the same information I received while visiting a yarn store in California in September—the proprietress reassured us that the yarn was handspun from wool that's naturally shed when the rabbits are brushed.

Does anyone have any additional perspectives (for or against) to help me decide if it's okay to purchase items made with Angora? Thanks.

[misanthropy]

I'm against using or exploiting animals in any way for human uses... this includes breeding. So obviously, I am against this.

The people selling this wool are still benefitting financially from breeding these rabbits. Also, what are the living conditions of these animals? What is their diet? Are they fed something "special" to make their fur softer? What constitutes "natural shedding" (i.e., do they do something to them to shed more quickly during this "natural shedding" process)? What happens to them when they are getting old and aren't really producing "quality wool"? These are some questions that you might want to consider.

Sorry, I don't know if this was very helpful.

[SbucksPixie]

I know a lot of people see being vegan as something involving a lot of shades of grey, but to me this particular issue is very black and white. As a vegan, I will not knowingly support the exploitation of animals by purchasing goods made with animal products. No animal products. Period.

Aside from that, I've had an Angora, and they take an ENORMOUS amount of time and effort to keep clean and comfortable. Angoras farmed for their fur typically don't receive this time and effort.

When it comes right down to it, humans are using animals to generate profit. Isn't being vegan about trying to prevent that? I mean, sure you don't have to kill the rabbit to get its wool, but don't we answer questions like that from non-vegans every day? Why don't we drink milik, eat honey, etc?

Just my thoughts.

[Tracy G]

I appreciate the input.

I tend to raise a skeptical eyebrow at "always/never" statements. "The Angora rabbit is never harmed" is mighty strong phrasing—strong enough that I am questioning it. It's easy to imagine that there are significant economic pressures for increased production which might lead to abuses on some Angora rabbit farms.

At this point, I'm less convinced that there's anything inherently wrong with the Angora yarn at the shop that I visited. Unless the woman was outright lying, that wool was simply groomed from a pet rabbit. The store also offered a couple of skeins spun from the hair of pet dogs. To me, that actually seems like a rather nifty idea... finding a creative use for stuff that's normally and harmlessly cast off.

It's all hypothetical, however; there wasn't enough available to make a whole sweater, and I'm not yet such a good knitter anyhow.

So much to think about, and I'm obviously still thinking out loud. This is my first winter as a vegan. I guess I wouldn't be raising the Angora issue at all, except that I haven't yet found acceptable substitutes for the wool in my wardrobe. I have issues with eczema—in my case, it's exacerbated by skin contact with soaps, detergents, bubble bath, chlorine, polyester (including polar fleece), and sometimes other synthetic fibers like acrylic (but oddly enough, not most types of wool, which are often a problem for people with eczema). So I'll probably have to stick with sweaters made from hemp and organic cotton, but they're not nearly as warm, alas. My Angora-blend long underwear is now ten years old and has holes in it, and I think I'm going to have to retire it at the end of this season, and I'm really going to miss it.

[SbucksPixie]

Sigh...my rescued Angora bunny would have gladly given you his wool. I miss him; he died of lung cancer 3 years ago. He's a big reason why I can't buy anything Angora anymore. The breed is very very affectionate, and intelligent. Duncan thought he was a puppy, and would follow me all over the house, and stand up and beg for his papaya enzyme tablets (one of the extra-care items Angoras need). I just can't bear to think of those sweet, social animals caged and deprived of interaction. (Don't get me started on rabbit hutches--after a few years doing house rabbit rescue, I get pretty livid!)

I would probably knit Angora wool, as they do shed quite a lot...but only if I got to pet it off the bunny myself! And then explain to everyone who complimented my sweater how I got it.

After I posted my reply last night, I came up with a brilliant and insightful summary of my vegan philosophy....sure wish I could remember it....

[Lacykitten]

I had an angora bunny. I would have liked to have somewhere to put all his fluff. He shed so much.

I also like the idea of using dog hair to make yarn or whatever and make things out of it. I think it's an interesting way to use something that otherwise just messes up your home! I think using anything that is generally "waste" is cool.

As long as it remains about using waste and not about using animals, I think it's okay. It really depends on how the animal is treated though in these cases. Brushing is a lot different than shearing, to me, especialy when many animals benefit from brushing and animals like angoras or persian cats or long-haired dogs require it quite often.

If it is a "let's use Fluffy's brushings to make things," it's okay. But not if it is "let's see how we can use Fluffy to make some money!" Making money is great as long as that is not your first concern. If I could sell my bunny's brushings and make some cash I'd be so there. she sheds like a madwoman. In the summer she was shedding, and we were brushing her and pulling huge clumps of hair out of her (her winter coat I guess) and it was insane. my front yard was covered in fluffy whiteness. I don't see anything wrong with using that, as long as what you are most concerned with is that your pet is good and healthy!

[misanthropy]

Originally Posted by Tracy G

I tend to raise a skeptical eyebrow at "always/never" statements. "The Angora rabbit is never harmed" is mighty strong phrasing—strong enough that I am questioning it.

Me too. My first response to that would probably be, "Oh yeah? Prove it."

While wool (from sheep, angora, etc.) may be warmer than cotton or hemp, using wool really isn't necessary. In the winters I layer my clothes and I can stay pretty warm even on the longest dog walks.

[Tracy G]

Yes, but...

I'm really getting into nature hikes, and I will likely require more technical clothing when visit Iceland in the late winter season. Cotton isn't going to cut it there. It doesn't insulate well when it's wet. (In fact, at mountainguide.is, they specifically forbid cotton and clearly state that "all inner clothing should be wool or fleece/polyester." And unfortunately, polyester doesn't work well for me as an inner layer. I've tried. My last experiment with polar fleece socks was not a happy one.)

That trip is four years away, though, so I won't give up hope. I still have time to search for alternatives. Meanwhile, yes, thankfully, layering is adequate for most regular purposes like walking the dog.

[Lacykitten]

I so can't layer enough in the winter. I haven't found a coat big enough to give me enough room for enough layers so that I don't freeze.

I hate the cold. I want to move somewhere hot.

[grog]

Perhaps you could take polyester or something, and give it a cotton lining?

[JasonSt]

What about gore-tex? I just got some gore-tex winter cycling shoes and they are hot (temperature-wise - they're definitely not sexy). I also have a gore-tex riding jacket that, even when the temperature is below zero Fahrenheit, causes me to sweat and I zip it down a bit. It doesn't provide me with much warmth unless I'm generating internal heat. When I go out walking, I get pretty cold. But it would make a good outer shell. And if you were hiking around, you'd be generating heat.

[herbi]

I sympathize with your need for something warm that won't irritate your skin, TracyG (I have the opposite more usual problem, that wool inner layers have always been super itchy and rashy and uncomfortable for me, so I would hate to be told that's all I could wear, and if that's how synthetics affect you... ). BUT... I am afraid I have some bad news.

It's certainly possible to get angora rabbit hair without cruelty, just as it is possible to get cathair or doghair or peoplehair or wool for that matter, but I googled "commercial angora rabbit production" and got some disturbing results. Here is the most damning link:

http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache...hl=en&ie=UTF-8

It's a report intended to be used as a reference for Australians interested in entering the rabbit industry. There are several others like it, several dealing with the US, if you repeat the search yourself. From these sites, I learned that:

-- Angora rabbits are raised "intensively", ie, in a high-density confinement ("factory farm") environment, generally in outdoor sheds or rows of wire cages.

-- 90% of angora comes from CHINA, a place not particularly known for respecting human rights, let alone animal rights.

-- "German angora" breeds are very "wooly" and are in fact shorn like sheep, every three months, with clippers or a blade. (There are recommendations for how much hair to leave to prevent outdoor rabbits from freezing to death in the winter, and when to time shearing in the summer to prevent heatstroke.)

-- "French angora" breeds, the kind that most of us would brush out, are actually fasted and then fed an oral depilatory medication to loosen the hairs and plucked every three months!!!

-- Also, and this may sound minor compared to some of the above, but many sites I saw emphasized that angora rabbits should never be given hay, as hay flakes will get into the hair fibers and decrease their value. Most vets (and the House Rabbit Society) emphasize that a variety of good quality hay should be offered free-choice to all rabbits on a daily basis, as the foundation of a healthy diet. Commercial rabbits get little to no fresh produce and no hay, only pellets, putting economy above digestive & behavioral needs.

So... that yarn lady didn't know what she was talking about when she said rabbits were "never harmed." She probably thinks wool sheep are "never harmed" either. Maybe you are lucky and she gets her rabbit yarn locally from some nice person who homes abandoned rescued rabbits and lovingly brushes them out and saves the fluff, in which case, go for it! But if she doesn't know the exact local small-scale source, then odds are it's Chinese and Not Very Nice. Sorry.

I'm sure some people would still have many problems with this, but you might look around your area for specialty small-scale fiber producers. I knew someone in New York who had a small herd of "Jacob's Sheep" and looked after them very well. They had a nice pasture and a comfy barn and they each had names and were basically outdoor pets, and she would spin their multicolored wool herself to weave blankets and things with natural-tone patterns. (Jacob's Sheep, besides having CRAZY-ass horns in all numbers and configurations, also come in every sheep color available- white, brown, grey, black, spotted, etc...) I'm not into wool myself, and I can see the argument where wearing it would just promote other people buying less responsibly-obtained stuff, etc, etc, but to me that seems about like the "would you ever eat the eggs from a pet chicken" situation. I wouldn't have a problem with it if it came down to it, and maybe you can find something similar if your heart is set on wool Icelandic gear? Good luck...

[misanthropy]

Originally Posted by herbi

She probably thinks wool sheep are "never harmed" either.

Most people that work in yarn stores actually believe this... actually MOST people believe this!

then odds are it's Chinese and Not Very Nice. Sorry.

HA! On first glance I thought you were talking about me.

[Tracy G]

Jason, the mountain guides recommend Gore-tex as an outer layer at the link which I posted. They suggest that 75% waterproof and 25% breathable is the best ratio for Icelandic conditions. Thanks for backing up their advice with your own experience, though!

Herbi, I appreciate that report that you found, and your summary is good enough for me. It's completely obvious now that farm-sourced Angora is not something I could purchase in good conscience. Just to clarify, however, the catalog and the yarn store are two different businesses. The catalog is the source of that broad statement that no rabbits are ever harmed. I'm sure the person who wrote that took it on faith from someone else, and didn't exactly go and check out every farm personally. The woman at the yarn store is someone different. She talked to my husband and me personally, and she seemed quite pleased and knowledgeable about the sources of the individual skeins of handspun specialty fibers in her store. Of course, I'd still have to take her word for it, since I don't know the pet owners personally. Anyway, I formed the impression from her that Angora is a cruelty-free fiber, but looking back, I realize she never specifically said that; she only addressed the yarn in her store, and not the Angora industry in general.

Suitable plant-based or synthetic alternatives would be ideal, of course, and those would be my first choice, if I can find them, though I haven't had much luck with that in the past. Animal fibers are something I'm using with increasing reluctance, and I've already donated about a third of what was previously in my wardrobe. If I ever go that route again for future purchases, I will insist upon items that are certifiably cruelty-free or, at the very least, reused/recycled.

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions and for helping me clarify my thoughts.

[grog]

This was all good stuff to know, thanks guys. Heck, I didn't even know angora meant rabbit.