Mohair SA partners with Oritain for certification to boost transparency

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Oct 21, 2020

As materials including wool, angora and mohair continue to come under scrutiny from anti-animal cruelty groups, Mohair South Africa has increased its commitment to sustainable mohair by partnering with scientific traceability company Oritain.

The country currently produces around half of the world’s mohair, accounting for nearly 30,000 South African jobs, and the industry body said it has linked up with Oritain as it’s “a world leader in using forensic science to verify the origin of products and raw materials”. 

The company can analyse mohair fibre and verify exactly which country it comes from. “This gives manufacturers, brands, and consumers insight into the content of their purchases,” Mohair SA said.

Mohair is the fleece of the Angora goat, native to the Karoo, and shorn twice a year. Making it more traceable is hugely important as groups such as PETA have targeted the fibre over allegations of cruelty. This has led to some brands saying they’d stop using it altogether.

Oritain Chief Strategy Officer Rupert Hodges said: “Mohair South Africa’s commitment to innovation and sustainability is vital in not only protecting this luxurious and sustainable fibre but also in helping to drive a more innovative and sustainable industry.” 

Lindsay Humphreys, Head of Global Business Development & Sustainability at Mohair South Africa, added: “The partnership with Oritain perfectly complements the progressive developments in the mohair industry with the recent launch of the Responsible Mohair Standard and the intensified training and education programs at a grassroots level. The focus of the South African mohair industry is a commitment to working towards a more sustainable and responsible future, taking the environment, the animals, and the people into consideration. The addition of scientific traceability through Oritain is very exciting for the future of the mohair industry”.