FRANCES V.H

hand-woven mohair textiles

THE KAROO

The Karoo, a semi-arid area of South Africa, is home to mohair farming, producing some of the finest mohair around. Its plains are scattered with colour, sometimes subtle and dusty, other times severe and crisp. The landscape is textured with fine flora and vast mountain ranges. Every step of Frances v.H Mohair textile process is inspired by the land and people of the Karoo.

van Hasselt Farming - Angora Goats in the Veld, The Great Karoo, South Africa — ANGORA GOATS IN THE VELD

MOHAIR

Mohair, the fleece of an Angora goat, is one of the world’s most ancient, exclusive and sustainable natural fibres. Mohair is soft, durable and has a beautiful lustre that adds a rich intensity and dimension to colour. Mohair is a uniquely African fibre and South Africa is the top mohair producing country in the world.

Frances van Hasselt has a deep affinity to mohair, having grown up on a family farm in the Karoo that owns one of the oldest mohair studs in the world.

FROM FARM TO FABRIC - A STORY OF A MOHAIR FARM & TEXTILE STUDIO IN THE KAROO

The Fabric of a Place - A documentary of a mohair farm in the Karoo — THE FABRIC OF A PLACE - A FILM ABOUT OUR THINKING ON FARMING AND MAKING - FROM THE VELD TO FABRIC

WE CREATE MOHAIR RUGS THAT ARE TRUE TO ORIGIN, SUSTAINABLE AND HELP TO PRESERVE CRAFTSMANSHIP IN REMOTE AREAS OF SOUTH AFRICA

MADE-BY-HAND

Every step, from spinning to carefully trimming the finished rug, is carried out by hand.

The quality and scarcity of the raw mohair, its distinct African heritage, and exquisite handcrafted workmanship together create beautiful, bespoke pieces.

RAW LANDSCAPES RANGE

UNCARDED. BLOCK COLOUR. TEXTURED

RAW LANDSCAPES

The rugs in this collection are made from raw, uncarded mohair. The fibre retains much of its natural texture and character, including its natural variations and markings, as it has not undergone any mechanised processing.

Using the finest natural fibre and traditional hand-weaving processes, these plain rugs are transformed into objects of refined beauty.

KAROO PLAINS RANGE

CARDED. COLOUR BLOCKED. PLAINS

KAROO PLAINS

This single-colour range uses carded mohair, which is machine-washed and combed to give the rugs a smoother, more luxurious feel. Colours range from light, crisp naturals to deep, saturated earth tones, celebrating mohair’s ability to bring colour to life.