Thursday, February 13, 1997

Mohair producers can't depend upon fashion alone

By J.T. SMITH / Farm Editor

Fashion is a fickle thing.

It's great when mohair is fashionable or "in" with New York's fashion moguls.

But Angora goat producers - thousands of miles away in Texas - are learning they can't depend upon the whims of fashion alone from year to year.

These mohair raisers are seeking new uses for their product.

"We must find new uses for mohair - we have too long depended on fashion as a prime user," says Lanny Leinweber of Mountain Home.

Leinweber is president of the Mohair Council of America.

New products and product development was the focal point of the Mohair Council's recent annual meeting in San Angelo.

Dick Pactor to help move mohair

The Mohair Council has turned to a veteran New Yorker and textile pro for help.

Richard "Dick" Pactor, 59, has been employed to work with manufacturers on clothing designs that use mohair.

A graduate textile engineer, Pactor was with Burlington Industries for 27 years as executive vice president of the men's wear division in charge of product development and styling.

Pactor later worked in a similar capacity with Forstmann.

"We believe Dick Pactor can help us," Leinweber says.

He and Leinweber met several weeks ago in New York to discuss the goals of the mohair industry.

Pactor will work out of the Mohair Council's New York marketing office. He was given a one-year contract that began Feb. 1.

Madeline Daddiego, the Mohair Council's promotion director, will continue in charge of the New York operation.

Abilene firm also part of the effort

In recent months, the Mohair Council has pushed the marketing of mohair socks being made by two Texas firms located in Uvalde and Sonora.

In addition, the Council has initiated a contract with the respected Abilene firm of Zachry Associates, Inc., to place mohair products in mail-order catalogs. H.C. Zachry will work to feature mohair products in such prestigious catalogs as L.L. Bean, Eddie Bauer, and others.

Work also continues with Modern Technologies Inc. of Georgia to develop a market for mohair carpet.

Gerald Morrison, president of the Georgia company, says he can have a quality mohair carpet developed for use in high-dollar homes and entertainment centers within a year.

"This is a perfect time to introduce a new fiber," Morrison says. "People are looking for something new."

Don't be too hasty

With all these good developments happening for mohair, a Texas A&M official advised growers not to be too quick to sell off their Angora goats and sell themselves out of the industry.

"As each young (Angora) female is slaughtered, it will become harder to rebuild the industry when mohair is back," said Ed Huston, interim director the Texas A&M University Research Center, San Angelo.

In other business, Jule Richmond of Blanket was appointed to the executive committee, along with Fred Speck of Rocksprings and Pierce Miller of San Angelo.

Leinweber says a search has begun in February to find a council executive director to succeed Duery Menzies, who will step down effective April 30. Menzies had agreed to serve three years when he took the job.

Those interested in applying for the executive director's position, should send their resumes to: Mohair Council, P.O. Box 5337, San Angelo, Texas 76902.

Applicants should have a working knowledge of mohair production and the Angora goat business, and the fashion industry. Applicants also should have an understanding of international trade and be willing to make routine trips to Europe, the Far East, and United Kingdom.

Meanwhile, the Mohair Council is in the progress of relocating its San Angelo office from the Norwest Bank Building to the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers Association building where the council will share space The move is to be complete by Feb. 28.

And the annual "Texas Tour" for mohair designers and manufacturers will be April 24-27 in San Antonio and Kerrville.

The council's summer directors meeting is slated for Aug. 14 at the Inn of the Hills in Kerrville.