According to the association, South Africa produces half the world’s mohair – the fleece of the angora goat - accounting for nearly 30,000 jobs. 

It claims mohair’s qualities - lustre, lightweight, dye-responsive, climate control, durability, crease-resistant and non-flammable - make it highly sought after.

Oritain uses a combination of forensic science and technology to analyse fibre and verify which country it comes from.

Lindsay Humphreys, head of global business development and sustainability at Mohair South Africa, said: “The mohair industry recognises the shift towards a fully traceable fashion fibre as the future of sustainable sourcing and we believe technology can play an important role in ensuring transparency from farm to store.”

“The partnership with Oritain perfectly complements the progressive developments in the mohair industry with the recent launch of the Responsible Mohair Standard and the intensified training and education programs at a grassroots level.”

Oritain recently partnered US mill Cone Denim to provide “documentable transparency” that its products contain no cotton from prohibited regions offfering “an elevated level of confidence and scientific peace of mind to customers”. 

Oritain was selected for the seventh round of Fashion for Good’s Accelerator Programme in March.