The animal is not killed to obtain it, which is the line a vegetarian diet draws. It remains an animal product, so it sits outside a vegan diet.
The two diets, side by side
A vegetarian diet excludes animals that were killed. A vegan diet excludes animal products entirely, whether the animal survived or not. Mohair sits in the gap between them: it clears the first bar and fails the second.
Mohair is not vegan. Angora goats are shorn for it and South Africa produces about 60% of world supply; PETA footage from those farms in 2019 sent H&M, Zara, and Topshop toward phase-out pledges. Brushed acrylic yarn sold as faux mohair gets close to the halo.
What it is
- Comes from
- Animal — harvested from Angora goats (not to be confused with angora rabbit fiber). South Africa produces approximately 60% of global mohair.
- Which animal
- angora goat
- Requires slaughter
- No, the animal keeps living
- Where you meet it
- Luxury knitwear, scarves, suits, blended yarns, plush toys.
Editorial notes
PETA investigations into South African mohair farms in 2019 revealed rough handling of goats, leading major retailers to suspend mohair purchasing. The Sustainable Fiber Alliance has developed a Responsible Mohair Standard, but this does not make mohair vegan. Major retailers including H&M, Topshop, and Zara have pledged to phase out mohair.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mohair vegetarian?
Vegetarian. The animal is not killed to obtain it, which is the line a vegetarian diet draws. It remains an animal product, so it sits outside a vegan diet.
Is Mohair vegan?
Not Vegan. Mohair is not vegan. Angora goats are shorn for it and South Africa produces about 60% of world supply; PETA footage from those farms in 2019 sent H&M, Zara, and Topshop toward phase-out pledges. Brushed acrylic yarn sold as faux mohair gets close to the halo.
Is mohair vegan?
No. Mohair is the fleece of the Angora goat, a farmed animal, so it is an animal product and not vegan. This applies regardless of welfare certifications such as the Responsible Mohair Standard. Those address handling practices. They do not change the fiber's animal origin.
Is mohair the same as angora?
No, and the naming causes frequent confusion. Mohair comes from the Angora goat and is obtained by shearing, while angora fiber comes from the Angora rabbit. Both are animal fibers, and neither is vegan.
Are goats killed to make mohair?
Goats are not killed for the fiber itself. Mohair is shorn in a process similar to sheep shearing. However, goats are typically sold for slaughter once their fleece quality declines. Investigations of South African farms documented rough handling and injuries during shearing. Mohair production is therefore tied to the slaughter system even though shearing is not lethal.