Mohair lining

[Mangrove]

I ran into an article on Finnish Kuusisen uutiset magazine (7-8/1937) which mentioned lining made from 100% mohair to be the best of all. The lining was manufactured by King-Linings company from Bradford. However the product's name was "King-Alpaca" which would contradict the information given on the article. Has anyone heard about mohair being used as a lining in suits and vests?

 

[Tomasso]

Has anyone heard about mohair being used as a lining in suits and vests?

No. But mohair is a rather breathable cloth so it's plausible...but.......it would be much more difficult to slip into, as opposed to a jacket lined with silk or bemberg.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

During the 'teens and '20s, it was common to find lighter weight suits lined in mohair -- or, just as often, alpaca cloth. In John Le Carre's 1996 novel, THE TAILOR OF PANAMA, said tailor complains about how a certain Savile Row bigshot "wasted" lovely alpaca wool by using it as mere suit lining.

Here: http://books.google.com/books?id=x3...e carre "the tailor of panama" alpaca&f=false

 

[Mangrove]

No. But mohair is a rather breathable cloth so it's plausible...but.......it would be much more difficult to slip into, as opposed to a jacket lined with silk or bemberg.

According to the text and photographs on the article, the fabric was almost transparent and I would thing this also means it was "slippery" enough.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

According to the text and photographs on the article, the fabric was almost transparent and I would thing this also means it was "slippery" enough.

I've got a late '20s "Hart, Schaffner & Marx" suit whose jacket is lined in mohair. The fabric is thin, with a slight sheen that's akin to very subtle sharkskin. The fabric's weave is, well, 'gritty' -- slightly rough to the touch.