Continuing Our British Mohair Journey: From Raw Fibre to Combed Sliver Tops
Following the announcement of our exclusive commercial agreement with British Mohair, we’ve been working steadily to bring this exceptional fibre to life. Our latest focus: transforming raw British-grown mohair into premium combed sliver tops – an essential step in producing high-quality yarns and fabrics.
Scouring: A Clean Start
Scouring is the first and most critical step in refining the raw fibre. Here, we carefully wash the mohair to remove lanolin, dirt, vegetable matter, and any residual oils from shearing and transport.
Using warm water, gentle detergents, and precise temperature control, we preserve the fibre’s natural structure, softness, and lustre. Proper scouring lays the groundwork for a consistent, high-performing end product—and it’s a process we approach with care and pride.
Carding and Gilling: Preparing for Perfection
Next, the fibre is opened and aligned through carding and gill blending. These mechanical processes separate and straighten the fibres, while blending them into smooth, uniform sliver.
At Seal International, we process over 60 tonnes of luxury fibre each month—including mohair, alpaca, wool, and cashmere. This capacity equips us with the technical expertise and fine control needed to handle delicate fibres with precision and consistency.
Combing: Revealing the Fibre’s Finest Qualities
In the combing stage, the mohair’s true quality comes to the forefront. Our specialist combing lines remove shorter fibres (noil), isolating only the longest, strongest, and most lustrous strands. The result is a sliver that’s exceptionally soft, consistent, and strong—ideal for spinning into luxury yarn.
We operate our mohair processing lines independently to avoid cross-contamination and ensure all batches are fully traceable to source. Every step is managed with meticulous care to uphold the reputation of British Mohair.
Creating Combed Sliver Tops: Consistent and Certified
The final slivers—known as combed tops—are gilled once more, then bump pressed using precision equipment. Bumping the tops prepares them for dyeing or direct spinning. Each bale is securely sealed and labelled at our Bradford site, ready for dispatch to spinning mills, weavers, or manufacturers.
Traceability and Assurance
Every kilogram of British Mohair processed at Seal is fully traceable back to its farm of origin and certified through British Mohair Marketing’s origin-assured scheme. This guarantees responsible farming practices and, most importantly, the welfare of the goats.
Learn more: British Mohair Marketing | Origin Assured Certification
Supporting British Fibre at Every Step
Our journey with British Mohair is about more than fibre processing. It’s about supporting local agriculture, reviving regional textile traditions, and investing in the future of UK manufacturing.
By combining heritage techniques with advanced technology, we’re helping to establish a new standard for British mohair—one rooted in quality, traceability, and sustainability.
From fleece to fibre—and soon, from fibre to yarn. In our next update, we’ll share how our combed tops are transformed into bespoke yarns and fabrics, destined for the world’s finest fashion and interior applications.
