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Dogs have been man’s best friend since who knows when! And if you have one of these furry pals at home, you know how much they shed. At least mine has his tumbleweeds of fur flying everywhere on the floor. While most of us sweep or vacuum this fur and throw it away, there is an ancient art form that made yarn out of dog/wolf fur.
Early History of Chiengora
Chiengora, pronounced she-an-gora, is an ancient weaving art form that originated in prehistoric Scandinavia. Chein means ‘dog’ in French and Angora refers to rabbit fur that was used to make scarves, sweaters etc.
Not only is Chiengora soft and comfortable, but also 80% warmer than traditional wool. It is also more water repellent, non-elastic and easier to maintain when compared to wool.
Before sheep wool was introduced by the people of Spain to the Americans, Chiengora was used to make warm clothes. But wool dominated over time and Chiengora lost its place in the market.
