Mohair is back in fashion and is in short supply - and the scarcity of the fibre is pushing prices up. Adult mohair prices have doubled compared to the same time last year.

"We saw a sudden increase in demand for particularly adult mohair; it has spilt over to young goat hair. It is the result of a sudden and unexpected increase in demand for knitting yarn, especially mohair knitting yarn," a spokesman for Cape Mohair and Wool said.

This demand is expected to continue throughout the season and the recent lifting of the ban on the export of unprocessed mohair to China is also expected to have a positive spin-off for producers.

30 August 2005