Angora
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Angora wool is prized for its exquisite softness and warmth. Sourced from the Angora rabbit, it has a history as a luxury fiber. However, the conventional angora industry is marred by severe animal cruelty, particularly the practice of live-plucking on unregulated farms.
The ethical impact of angora is a primary concern. Over 90% of angora comes from farms with lax animal welfare regulations, leading to immense suffering. To address this, the Caregora certification has emerged as a new, independently audited standard that meets European animal welfare guidelines, ensuring a more humane and traceable supply chain.
The environmental impact of angora is similar to other natural fibers. It is a protein fiber that is biodegradable at the end of its life. However, its delicate nature and the lack of a dedicated recycling stream make it a challenging fiber to manage within a circular system.
At Circular People, we have banned angora from our products. We choose to avoid angora entirely due to the systemic cruelty in the industry. However, we acknowledge the existence of certified alternatives like Caregora, which represent a move toward better animal welfare standards. We encourage consumers to be skeptical of any angora that is not backed by a robust and transparent certification.
Check out our Field Log for a deeper dive into this fiber.