THE USE OF WOOL TO CREATE FASHION ACCESSORIES IN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT This research work is on the production of using wool to make fashion accessories which include hair net, hair packer, suit tag, skirt and top. The researcher source the material of the research work in Ogbete main market Enugu. The research work was carried out in IMT Enugu. The researcher analyzed the data with the use of tables and percentage. the researcher find out that lack of awareness on the new trends in the use of wool for fashion accessories. poor knowledge of designers on the operation and usage of new and sophisticated designs affect the designers to a large extent. the research equally discovered that poor quality of materials used in the production affects the outputs. Chapter four look at what the public have said about my effort while chapter five concluded the summary, recommendations, suggestion for further studies, then references.                    TABLE OF CONTENT Title page                                                                                ii Approval Page                                                                 iii Dedication                                                                       iv Acknowledgment                                                            v Table of Contents                                                            vii CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION Background of the study                                                1 Statement Of The Problems                                           27 Purpose of the study                                                       27 Significance of the study                                                29 Scope of the study                                                          30 Limitation of the study                                                   30 Definition Of Terms                                                                31 CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW The use of wool in Igbo culture and tradition                37 Wool: An Overview                                                          46 CHAPTER THREE MATERIAL AND METHODS Method used in the production of hair net                    53 Method used in the production of hair packer              54 Method used in the production of suiting                      55 Method used in the production of skirt                          56 Method used in the production of top                            58 CHAPTER FOUR Data Analysis                                                                   62     CHAPTER FIVE Conclusion,  Recommendations and Suggestion for further studies Conclusion                                                                      67 Recommendation                                                             67 Suggestion For Further                                                    69 References                                                                       70       CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION background of the study A wool is a textile fiber obtained form sheep and certain other animals including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, quiet from muskoxen, angora from rabbits, and other types of wool camelids (Braaten, 2010) Wool has several qualities that distinguish it from hair or fur: it is crimped, it is elastics and it grows in staples. Wool is a significant material in creating fashion accessories. Fashion accessories are item used for complementing an outfit and chosen to specifically complement the wearer’s look. They include beads, ear-rings, bangles, In Nigeria, wool is used for creating fashion accessories and his can be found in the north and western part of Nigeria. Various fashion wool accessories are still in vogue. According to Uduma (2007) wool is one of nature’s best insulating fibers and has been used for making clothing for centuries. Not only is wool extremely good at holding in warmth, it also wicks moisture and dries faster than cotton. The most widely available type of wool come from sheep. However, sheep aren't the only animal that produce natural, warmth-enhancing fibers. Alpaca, angora rabbits and camels also produce luxurious, wool-like fibers that are used for making high-quality might wear and woven fabrics. Benefits of Wool in the fashion industry According Anthony,(2010) it helps to understand some of the benefits that all types of wool offer. Wool has several characteristics that other natural fibers like cotton and linen simply can’t compete with. Wool is water resistant. Anthony,(2010) said that Unlike human hair or animal fur, wool fibers are actually hollow with a durable, flexible and water-repellent exterior. The structure of wool fibers is composed of small, overlapping sections, kind of like shingles on a roof. Each fiber's core absorbs up to 30% of its weight in moisture vapor without becoming damp or clammy. Meanwhile, the hard outer layer protects against outside moisture from rain and snow. Wool wicks moisture. Anthony,(2010) futher stated that apoint from blocking most external moisture, wool fibers wick perspiration away from the body. Normally, as your sweat evaporates, heat is drawn away from your skin. This effect is comforting in hot weather, but can dampen your clothing and give you chills in colder weather. Unlike cotton, which absorbs moisture and tends to remain wet, wool actually wicks perspiration and allows it to evaporate quickly, thus keeping you warmer. Wool is a wonderful insulator. According to Brenda, (2003) wool fibers are not perfectly smooth or straight. Instead, they’re crimped, which helps produce tiny insulating air spaces that retain more heat. In a way, wool functions similarly to the puffy fiberglass insulation inside the walls of a house. Wool is breathable and regulates temperature. Brenda, (2003) opined that wool has a wide comfort range, which is very helpful for adapting to changing weather conditions. This unique property makes wool the perfect fiber for crafting outerwear and insulating apparel, since it has the ability to provide warmth in colder conditions and also breathes well as temperatures warm up. Wool is naturally odor-resistant. You may have noticed that synthetic fabrics like polyester and polypropylene can begin to retain odors over time. Wool is much more resistant to retaining odors. Sheep’s wool is also naturally resistant to wrinkling and static. (Brenda, 2003) Sheep’s Wool According to Derek, (2012) there’s an old Spanish proverb that says: "Wherever sheep's feet touch the ground, the land turns to gold." Clearly the Spanish were onto something. Sheep's wool is the most widely available type of wool and is sorted into several quality levels. Fine-quality wool is used to make luxury garments likes suits and dress pants. Medium-quality wool is used in the production of heavier sport coats, sweaters and light blankets. Coarser wool is ideal for crafting heavy blankets, topcoats, felt boot liners and upholstery products. Wool fibers have many good qualities, including the following: Wool maintains its shape when stretched and is colorfast when dyedWool does not melt when exposed to flame, like most synthetic fibersWool is biodegradable There are several unique varieties of sheep’s wool, and each has specific characteristics. Shetland Wool Raised in the Shetland Islands off Scotland’s northern coast, Shetland sheep produce very fine, lustrous wool, which is cultivated from their soft undercoat. Warm, lightweight Shetland wool is only available in limited quantities and natural colors. It’s most often used in the production of high-end knitwear, sportswear and coats.( Derek, 2012)   Merino Wool Cultivated from merino sheep, this type of wool has superior shine, incredible softness and great breathability, along with an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio. Merino has a nearly pure white color that accepts dye very well. It’s also very strong, naturally elastic and soft against the skin. Merino wool doesn’t have the coarse, itchy feel of standard wool because merino fibers are much finer than standard sheep’s wool. (George, 2011) According to Henry (2012) The vast majority of merino sheep are raised in the mountainous regions of Australia and New Zealand. Today, there are more than ten different varieties of merino sheep worldwide. Some well-known breeds include Australian, Peppin, Saxony, Rambouillet, Vermount and South African. Lamb’s wool Henry (2012) is of the view that this is considered to be the highest quality sheep's wool on the market. Lambswool is taken from a sheep at its first shearing (usually when the sheep is about seven months old). Lambswool is incredibly soft, smooth, resilient, elastic and has superior spinning properties. Because of its silkiness, softness and warmth, lambswool can be worn comfortably against the skin. It’s also the most hypoallergenic of all wools and is resistant to dust mites, making it a fine choice for bedding and linens. Loden Wool Loden wool originated in the Tyrolean Alps in the 16th century and is still highly popular among sportsmen. Loden is characterized by a slightly 'greasy' feeling and is frequently used to make heavy coats. Loden's luxurious nap is combed downward, creating a shingle effect that sheds water very effectively. (Henry 2012) Melton Wool According to Judith(2010) Melton wool fibers are thick with a smooth exterior surface. Due to the finishing processes that completely conceals the weave, this type of wool makes very solid cloth. Melton wool is durable, water-resistant and wind resistant. The thickest weights of melton wool are often used to make heavy outerwear, including jackets and wool pants. Thinner weights are used to make sweaters and socks. Sheep’s Wool Grades Wool grades are selected to suit the needs of the products being made. Different wool grades offer different fiber lengths, fiber thicknesses and other properties. (Judith2010) Virgin Wool has two definitions. First, it is the wool taken from a lamb's first shearing, which is the softest and finest sheep’s wool available. Second, virgin wool can refer to wool that has never been used, processed or woven before. This type of virgin wool can come from an adult sheep.'Super' Wools are classified by the count or the fineness of the yarn used to make a particular cloth. The finer the count (measured in microns), the more fibers are used per square inch of cloth. The higher the number, the finer and softer the cloth will be. 'Super' wools are put into the following categories: Super 100's, Super 110's, Super 120's and Super 150's. For example, Super 100's wool must contain fibers that are finer than 18 microns. Super 150's wool must contain fibers that are finer than 15 microns. Statistically, Super 150's wool is actually finer than cashmere.Boiled Wool is created by putting sheep’s wool through a special washing process that creates a dense, durable and water-resistant fabric with a texture similar to thick felt. Boiled wool has the suppleness of a knit with the shape retention of a woven fabric. Boiled wool is frequently used to make slippers, hats, gloves, scarves and a variety of outerwear.Worsted Wool has been manufactured in Worstead, England since the eighteenth century. Wool fibers are spun into compact, smoothly twisted yarn before weaving or knitting. The wool then goes through a second combing process which removes unwanted short fibers. Because the remaining long-staple fibers lay flat and parallel, worsted wool is a popular choice for suiting and dress trousers. It also resists wrinkles and creases.Tropical Weight Wool is a two-ply, plain-woven, worsted wool that sturdy, lightweight, airy and breathable. Tropical wool (sometimes called summer weight wool) is used to make warm-weather suits and other garments that can be worn in warmer weather.Shearling is lambskin or sheepskin that has been tanned with the wool still adhered to the hide. Shearling is luxuriously soft, supple and warm, which makes it a popular choice for crafting slippers and sheepskin boots.Flannel, wool fleece, gabardine and tweed are other popular fabrics that are frequently made from sheep's wool or a blend containing wool. (Judith, 2010) Other Types of Wool Alpaca Wool According to Khaminiwa (2007) Softer and sturdier than cashmere and lighter than sheep's wool, alpaca fleece is a luxurious commodity that produces warm, silky, durable and feather-light garments. Alpaca wool boasts tremendous warmth and insulation with a soft drape and texture. Alpaca is frequently used to craft upscale suits, sportswear, sweaters, outerwear linings, draperies, bedspreads and baby clothing and blankets. There are two breeds of alpaca: Huacaya and Suri. Combined, both produce more than 20 different colors of fleece. The more common Huacaya breed produces dense, thick, crimped and fast-growing fleece. The rarer Suri alpaca has long, lustrous fleece that takes more time to grow. Some key benefits of alpaca include: A fine, silky and lightweight fiberNice lusterCreates strong, durable and pill-resistant fabrics Mohair According to Mark (2012)The Angora goat produces mohair wool, which is known for its silkiness and lustrous sheen. A very good insulator, mohair is also strong, durable, breathable and lightweight. Although it accepts dyes well, natural mohair wool fabric is exceptionally beautiful because of its color variations. Mohair fabrics tend to be non-crushing, non-matting and non-pilling. Mohair is used in high-quality suiting, sweaters, dresses, scarves, blankets and baby clothing and blankets. Some key benefits of mohair include: A lustrous, silky appearanceLightweight and exceptionally durable fibersFabrics drape wellNon-crushing, non-matting and non-pillingAbsorbs dye wellDoes not stretch, so fabrics and knits maintain shape well Angora Mark (2012) further stated that Angora wool is an extraordinarily soft fiber produced from the fur of the Angora rabbit. The fibers are hollow, which gives them excellent loft and a very lightweight feel. Angora wool is exceptionally soft and possess the highest heat retention of any natural fiber (two-and-a-half times warmer than sheep's wool). It also has the best moisture-wicking properties of any natural fiber. He opined that because angora fibers are so fine and fragile, they are almost always combined with other fibers to create garments. Most often, angora is blended with other wools to increase warmth and enhance softness. Angora-blended apparel can be worn outside in very cold conditions and then immediately worn inside without overheating. Because angora involves a laborious harvesting process and a small number of producers, most angora wool products are quite expensive. Benefits of angora wool include: Extremely soft, lofty, lustrous and lightweight fibersBest heat retention of all natural woolsNaturally resistant to odors Cashmere According to Peter (2014) Cashmere is an extremely soft fiber cultivated from the Kashmir goat. Native to India, Tibet, Turkistan, Iran, Iraq and China, Kashmir goats produce hair with a soft, lofty feel and a natural crimp. Cashmere wool is actually the downy wool that grows beneath a Kashmir goat's coarser exterior hair. Fibers are cultivated by combing the goat rather than clipping it. Each goat only produces a few ounces of cashmere per year, which makes it one of the most expensive natural fibers. Peter (2014) said that the natural crimp of cashmere fibers allows them to interlock during processing, resulting in very fine, lightweight yarns. Cashmere knits and fabrics retain the loft of the naturally crimped fibers, which makes them warm and very lightweight. However, cashmere is less durable than wools produced by sheep. Key benefits of cashmere include: Extremely soft and lofty fibers with a natural crimpFabrics and knits are lightweight and breathableAdjusts to humidity in the air for adaptability in all climates Camel Hair Like other luxury “wools,” camel hair is extremely soft, durable, lustrous, lightweight and warm. Clothing manufacturers frequently leave camel hair fabric in its natural state (a lustrous golden brown), but it may also dyed navy, red or dark brown. Since it’s so highly prized and expensive to harvest, camel hair is usually blended with sheep's wool to make it more economical for the manufacturer to produce. (Sara, 2011) Fine-quality camel hair comes from the Bactrian (two hump) camel, which is bred in the extremely cold climates of China and Mongolia. The hair is gathered when the camel molts instead of by shearing or clipping. Camel hair suits, coats, blazers, jackets, skirts and hosiery are prized for their drape and soft feel. Because of its warmth, camel hair is also used to make sweaters, gloves, scarves and coats. Key benefits of camel hair include: Very soft and fine fibersPleasing, golden-brown colorLustrous, durable and lightweight Thanks for checking out our wool guide! According to Sara (2011) Wool's scaling and crimp make it easier to spin the fleece by helping the individual fibers attach to each other, so they stay together. Because of the crimp, wool fabrics have greater bulk than other textiles, and they hold air, which causes the fabric to retain heat. Insulation works both ways: Bedouins and Tuaregs use wool clothes to keep heat out and protect the body. Felting of wool occurs upon hammering or other mechanical agitation as the microscopic barbs on the surface of wool fibers hook together. The amount of crimp corresponds to the fineness of the wool fibers. A fine wool like Merino may have up to 100 crimps per inch, while the coarser wools like Karkul may have as few as one or two. In contrast, hair has little if any scale and no crimp, and little ability to bind into Yam. On sheep, the hair part of the fleece is called Kemp. The relative amounts of kemp to wool vary from breed to breed and make some fleeces more desirable for spinning, felting, or carding into batts for quilts or other insulating products, including the famous tweed cloth of Scotland. Wool fibers readily absorb moisture, but are not hollow. Wool can absorb almost one-third of its own weight in water.[3] Wool absorbs sound like many other fabrics. It is generally a creamy white color, although some breeds of sheep produce natural colors, such as black, brown, silver, and random mixes. According to Schreuder (2010) Wool ignites at a higher temperature than cotton and some synthetic fibers. It has a lower rate of flame spread, a lower rate of heat release, a lower heat of combustion, and does not melt or drip; it forms a char which is insulating and self-extinguishing, and it contributes less to toxic gases and smoke than other flooring products when used in carpets.[5] Wool carpets are specified for high safety environments, such as trains and aircraft. Wool is usually specified for garments for firefighters, soldiers, and others in occupations where they are exposed to the likelihood of fire. Wool is considered by the medical profession to be hypoallergenic. Processing According to Szokolay (2013) Sheep shearing is the process by which the woolen fleece of a sheep is cut off. After shearing, the wool is separated into four main categories: fleece (which makes up the vast bulk), broken, bellies, and locks. The quality of fleeces is determined by a technique known as wool classing, whereby a qualified person called a wool classer groups wools of similar gradings together to maximize the return for the farmer or sheep owner. In Australia and New Zealand, before being auctioned, all Merino fleece wool is objectively measured for micron, yield (including the amount of vegetable matter), staple length, staple strength, and sometimes color and comfort factor. The sheep is given a dip in antiseptic solution after shearing, so as to cure the wounds caused during shearing. Scouring   According to Tiwari (2010) Wool straight off a sheep, known as "greasy wool" or "wool in the grease", contains a high level of valuable lanolin, as well as dead skin, sweat residue, pesticides, and vegetable matter. Before the wool can be used for commercial purposes, it must be scoured, a process of cleaning the greasy wool. Scouring may be as simple as a bath in warm water or as complicated as an industrial process using detergent and alkali in specialized equipment. In north west England, special potash pits were constructed to produce potash used in the manufacture of a soft soap for scouring locally produced white wool. In commercial wool, vegetable matter is often removed by chemical carbonization. In less-processed wools, vegetable matter may be removed by hand and some of the lanolin left intact through the use of gentler detergents. This semigrease wool can be worked into yarn and knitted into particularly water-resistant mittens or sweaters, such as those of the Aran Island fishermen. Lanolin removed from wool is widely used in cosmetic products such as hand creams. statement of the problem A reasonable number of problem resulted me, embarking on this research wok thus: The trending development in the use of wool in an accessing for fashion making in Nigeria is no encouraging compare to the modern society. Again it is viewed that the poor knowledge of the use of wool has contributed to the fall of textile industries in Nigeria. purpose of the study The study is to create awareness about the modern trend in the use and application of certain fashion accessories in the state. The study is specifically sough to: 1)  Trace the origin and the use of wool in making fashion accessories. 2)  To introduce new techniques in the production of fashion accessories using wool. 3)  Assists the younger designer in developing skills needed in meeting international. Skin-dard in the production and designing fashion world. 4)  to design and produce fashion items such as, hair net hair packer clothing etc. 5)  To find out the various items present in Enugu state. 6)  To find out the level at which people study fashion designing and understand value in the use of wool. 7)  To examine the different qualities and types of wool and purpose they can be used on in creating fashion accessories. Significance of the study This project will be beneficial to fashion designer since it will reveal various fashion trend that are accessible to the fashion industry in Nigeria. It will aid local designers in improving their creative techniques with the use of wool. And finally it will serve as a research medium for student in fashion designing and clothing technology (FDCT) who would embark on similar topic. It will also improve our marketing industry. Since I will harvest spirit of creating and craft man ship among our local designers. Nigeria as a country will benefit from the result of this research work as it will proffer possible ways of encouraging the use of wool in fashion outfit in the country Nigeria, since the country is richly blessed with agricultural produce. This study will also be of immense help to students in IMT Enugu as it will reveal the potentials of wooden accessories. scope of the study The research work is carried out in Udi Local Government Area Enugu state Nigeria, it covers the construction of hair pack, clothing hair net, ribbon etc using wool as accessories for fashion out fit in Udi LGA. Limitations of the study The problems encountered by the researcher in this research work includes the following; Time limit: The time mapped out for this research work by the school management is not enough for the researcher as she had to combine the research with other academic activities. Lack of Sufficient Raw Material:  Fashion material are very scarce within the area of this research work as the researcher had to travel to so many places in search of materials. Limited Information Sources: limited information is one major challenge faced by the researcher since many fashion firms refused to release certain information which they feel are very confidential to the management. Get the Complete Project Material Now!!!