Camel Wool
Camel wool is a strong, shiny, smooth, warm and at the same time light fabric. Material of choice for coats and jackets, but also suitable for scarves and sweaters, the best quality natural camel comes from the coat of animals called double-humped "Bactrians" found in Central Asia and raised in nature.
Origins
The legendary presence of this strange animal has accompanied man over the millennia. A favourite means of transport for centuries, the camel has marked the history of entire populations along the exotic trade routes between Asia, Africa and Europe. Camel yarn has been documented in the West since the 17th century but only in the 1800s did it suddenly became popular within the borders of the British Empire thanks to the diffusion of horse polo, a sport that was very widespread at the time and for which camel wool jackets worn by players become a symbol of noble elegance even off the playing field. Even today, clothes made of camel wool are worn by desert nomads to protect themselves from both the heat and the cold. Over the centuries the yarn has seen multiple practical uses but its rarest and finest form is intended for the creation of precious garments. For Malo it is about timeless jackets and coats, hand-embroidered sweaters and scarves, refined specialties made by the most experienced craftsmen.
Characteristics
Unlike most camels, which are short-haired, Bactrian camels are known for their large twin humps and long, shiny coat. A distinctive feature of this type of wool is that it is not obtained by shearing or plucking, but collected when the animal sheds its coat. During the moulting period, in spring, the younger animals are brushed, both the outer layer and the undercoat are collected and only later, by combing, the coarser hairs are separated from the finer and more valuable ones. Camel is a material that, if worked in an artisanal way, keeps its extraordinary natural qualities, including its colour. The yarn in its most precious form has the appearance of a golden tan with shades ranging from red to light brown without the need for dyes, the beauty of these fabrics lying precisely in the characteristic colour. Camel wool is also very warm but breathable, the youngest wild specimens giving a very modest and therefore precious yield, only about 700 grams per year, and the fabric obtained is particularly soft and warm, the most valuable according to the methods of classification.
Washing and care
In order for a camel garment to remain unchanged over time it should preferably be washed by hand using only mild surfactant-free soaps. Always avoid fabric softeners. The washed garments should be laid on a dry towel so as to preserve their shape and left to dry if possible in the open air.
