A 1940s roll-back sofa dressed in a soft, subtle-hued mohair makes a quiet statement in the family room of Siri Eklund’s Charleston, South Carolina, home. Passed down from her great aunt, the sofa was last reupholstered in the early aughts.
“Twenty-five years ago I selected a Kravet mohair in a shade of taupe–and twenty-five years later it still looks brand new,” she says. “It’s so soft and has a beautiful luster. The fabric is ageless.”
Get a weekly dose of home and style inspiration
Subscribe to the St. Louis Design+Home newsletter to explore the latest stories from the local interior design, fashion, and retail scene.
In addition to bringing beauty and longevity of design to her home, the fabric inspired Eklund and business partner, Meghan Heeter, to launch a line of mohair for Ättlingar, the duo’s home accessories company based in St. Louis. Offered in 12 colorways, from rich rust to aquamarine, the fabrics are ethically woven in the United States and made of 100-percent mohair pile.
So where does mohair come from and what makes it attractive to designers and homeowners? It is shorn from the angora goat, known for its durable, moisture-wicking coat, which helps explain why pros love to use it in both their homes and design projects. “Mohair takes dye really well and is a very luxurious fabric, so often it is used instead of wool or velvet,” says Vicki Dreste, a consultant at Design & Detail in St. Louis.
Annie Brahler, owner of the interior design firm EuroTrash, echoes what Dreste says. “Anything I would use a velvet on, I use a mohair. Velvet is typically silk or synthetic and can wear and stain easily. Mohair is indestructible. Back in the day, movie theaters had those red plush seats. That was mohair. Mohair can get worn down but that’s only after decades of use.”
The longevity and quality of mohair comes at a cost. “Mohair in its finest form can reach up to $700 a yard,” says Dreste. Eklund and Heeter’s line, which they hope will fill a void in the market for more accessible, color-rich mohair, is priced at $195 a yard.
Interior designers turn to mohair to upholster furniture that will see a lot of use, including sofas, love seats, dining chairs, and ottomans. “It’s hearty and luxurious and a great backdrop for other layering that might take place in a room,” says Eklund.
Brahler points to a pair of vintage 1940s arm chairs in her showroom. Sourced from a Dutch manufacturer, they’re still covered in the original berry-tone mohair, she says. And, almost 90 years later, they still look pristine.
