Non-woven textile used as a practical material, particularly in Central Asia, and as an artistic and craft medium. Felt is the end product of a process whereby fibres or staples of animal hair are subjected to friction and pressure under moist, hot conditions. The action enables the fibres to matt owing to their ability to ‘creep’ in a tip to root direction. The scales on the outer covering of the fibres then become enmeshed in the natural crimp of the twisted fibres.