fleece

Fleece is the woolly coat of sheep and other mammals, and the fiber obtained from that coat. In ordinary usage, fleece also denotes the raw wool shorn from the animal as well as the textile fiber produced from it. The term covers fibers from sheep and other animals such as goats (cashmere and mohair), alpacas, llamas, and rabbits (angora). Fleece is valued for its warmth, resilience, and ability to be spun into yarn.

Natural fleece is produced by shearing the animal’s woolly coat, which may include an undercoat and guard hairs. Sheep fleece is described by fiber diameter (microns), length, crimp, and yield. Fleece is often greasy on harvest, containing lanolin; it is called greasy fleece until cleaned. After scouring, the fleece is carded and combed to align fibers and remove impurities, then spun into yarn or processed into felt or fabric.

Uses and processing: The primary end product is wool textile for clothing, blankets, and upholstery; it is also used for insulation and felt. Fleece fabric, by contrast, can refer to a soft synthetic material (usually polyester) that mimics wool’s warmth and texture, popular for jackets, blankets, and linings, and notable for being lightweight and quick-drying. Care varies: genuine wool fleece generally requires gentle washing and air drying, while synthetic fleece is typically machine washable.