Dog Hair Sweaters - Epic or Ewww?

05/26/2011

Who are you wearing? Oh, just a little something I knitted with stuff I found in my vacuum filter.

It was just a matter of time. Just last month we shared with you the funky fashion that is cat hairball jewelry and, not to be outdone, crafty dog enthusiasts have upped the ante and are peddling sweaters and scarves made from none other than bits o' dog hair found on their floors, couch cushions, beds, clothing and wherever else dog hair has wafted about in their homes.

"Chiengora" Samoyed Sweaters & Collie Caps

According to the Wall Street Journal, a band of like-minded enthusiasts are doing everything they can to turn garments knitted of canine sheddings from a pet-owner's fetish into a fashion trend. Calling it "Chiengora," a kindler, gentler term than "DOG HAIR SWEATER", the term was built around the French word for dog (Chien) that also evokes the luxurious feel of angora. Apparently this cottage industry was spurred by the publication of a how-to guide titled "Knitting With Dog Hair: Better a Sweater From a Dog You Know and Love Than From a Sheep You'll Never Meet."

Will I Smell Like Wet Dog If It Rains?

We have been reassured that these canine hair crafters wash the dog hair several times with a detergent before spinning it into yarn. Even when wet, a Golden Retriever scarf doesn't smell any more like dog than a typical wool sweater smells like sheep, according to the crafters.

That said, the other questions that would keep me up at night when I think about the prospect of wearing a dog hair sweater are as follows:

1) Will I need to apply Frontline or Advantage to fend off fleas?

2) Will I be more susceptible to picking up fox tails or burrs if I wear a dog hair sweater?

3) Would a sweater made with Poodle hair shed less on my black pants than, say a sweater made with Golden Retriever hair?

4) What exactly would happen if a hairless dog were to wear a sweater made with dog hair?

What do you think? Would you wear a dog hair sweater?

Photo Courtesy of Erwan Fichou

Comments

[Vegan.]

Animals don't exist to be used by humans.

These fashion trends are stupid and speciecist. In time, people will start to kill dogs to be used for this fashion, as allways has happened with other animal-derived products.

Stop this abuse !!

[Vegan.]

How can Animal Planet promote this?

[Revenwyn]

It's not abuse. I knitted a sweater from the hair that I shaved off my Bichons three times a year. First I bathed them, then I dried them, then I shaved them. Then I had the fur carded and spun into yarn for me by someone I knew. I would have otherwise just thrown that fur away.

I am allergic to wool but my bichon hair sweater was beautiful and just as warm as wool.

[Charles]

I have a friend who calls the hair on the floor tumbleweeds because they roll up together and tumble around. What a genius way to use that fur to your advantage.

[bullet express]

We have been reassured that these canine hair crafters wash the dog hair several times with a detergent before spinning it into yarn.

[tile cleaning]

I agree Vegan. It is so horrible... Dogs are so nice animals...

[Nana]

Vegan, I understand that you commented out of your love for dogs but please make sure you read the article before jumping to such conclusions.

these sweaters are made from the hair dogs shed naturaly.
that means no dogs where harmed, they didn't shaved (or killed) them to get the hair.

I think this has a lot of potential, many dogs are alergic to synthetic fibers or wool, a sweater made from their own shed hair might hellp them cope with harsh weather.

[Watch full movies online]

lol its definitely not epic :)

[pretied bandanas]

It's look like you cover every thing in this Article. This is great and finally got something to learn after roaming around the other blogs.
This should keep me busy for a while! Thank you so much.Hope I will get some great stuff soon from you.Great work.
pretied bandanas

[Dolfer]

Question for those who are against spinning dog fur into clothing: Do you feel the same way about any animal fleece that is being spun into clothing? If the answer is yes, then starting wearing clothes that are made from plant material or chemical materials. Since I live in area that gets cold in the winter, I want some to wear that will keep me warmer that plant or chemicals.

[J'lea]

Chiengora has been used by humans and PRIZED as the warmest thing to make clothing with out of most any other. AND usually FAR cleaner to start than most other animal types, like sheep wool. Sheep are VERY dirty compared to a dog. People who put down using chiengora have no idea that it has been used for HUNDREDS if not thousands of years as the MOST luxurious of all for it's ability to retain heat so well.
It works so well in fact you have to be careful when making full sweaters from it as you will overheat too easily if the garment is not carefully made. YAY for keeping the use of this most prized yarn of all alive! The oldest peoples on the planet prized it and yet we prefer a dirty sheep's wool...sheesh.