Role of Quality Attributes of Indian Wool in Performance of Woolen Product: Present Status and Future Perspectives - A Review

Wool, a natural animal fibre obtained from fleece of small ruminants mainly from sheep and is used for development of various textile products ranges from suiting fabric to carpet due it its distinct properties like resiliency, flame-resistance, warmth, and good reactivity towards dyes. The quality attributes such as physio-chemical, mechanical and morphological properties of wool fibre play a major role in deciding its end use and value addition. Generally, fine wool is used for making suiting fabric with shrink resistant finish; Indian wool can be utilized for carpets and blankets. However, there is a wide scope for product diversification from Indian wool through genetic and technological intervention for improving their aesthetic as well as performance properties. This paper reviews the role of important quality attributes of Indian wool for the product development and value addition.