Wool is a textile fiber obtained from sheep and other mammals, especially goats, rabbits, and camelids. As an animal fiber, it is composed of protein and a small percentage of lipids, making it chemically different from plant fibers like cotton.
Wool is produced by follicles located in the skin. These follicles, found in the epidermis and extending into the dermis, can be classified as primary or secondary. Primary follicles produce kemp, medullated fibers, and true wool fibers, while secondary follicles produce only true wool fibers. Medullated fibers are long and hair-like but lack crimp and elasticity, while kemp fibers are coarse and shed.
