The coat of a llama is comprised of two different types of hair: guard hairs and ground hairs. Llama guard hairs tend to grow faster and coarser than the ground hairs of the animal’s undercoat. Thus, these fibers generally protect the finer, crimped underlying layer. Both types of llama hair can be exploited for human use. The guard hairs are utilized locally, for instance to construct ropes and to weave rugs, while the softer hair of the undercoat is often used alone or in blends for sweaters and other knitwear. Llama fiber is also sometimes felted to create high quality llama felt cowboy hats, an item particularly popular in Texas.