Hosiery is black socks made from fine wool or silk. Nylon is less absorbent than wool or cotton. Clothes of cotton, wool and animal skin were worn. Alpaca fiber is similar in structure to sheep wool fiber. It is far cheaper to produce than wool, cotton, or silk. Small amounts are used for dyeing wool and silk. The city was very industrial and produced many products including wool and cotton cloth. Finer tunics were made of lightweight wool or linen. These dyes had great affinity for animal fibres such as wool and silk. Silk alone or blended with wool is sometimes used. Kashmir is known for handknotted carpets of silk or wool. Uranium salts are mordants of silk or wool. That was the starting point of the usage of the cashmere wool. Shorter stockings were tied to garters with stripes of wool or linen. Patna is a major importer of cotton, iron, foodgrains, rice, wheat, wool, and dalhan.