Moth holes
Also: moth damage
Moth holes are small, irregular holes chewed by clothes-moth larvae, most common in wool, cashmere, and other animal fibers. They're often clustered and can be tiny, so they're easy to miss — and because they're structural damage, they weigh heavily on the grade.
How to detect it
- Hold the garment up to a light — pinholes glow through
- Check knit underarms, cuffs, and folded areas where larvae feed undisturbed
- Look for clusters of small holes rather than a single clean cut
Grade impact
Moth holes hit Structural Integrity (25%). Even a single small hole rules out the Excellent tier; multiple holes push a piece to Fair (5) or Poor (3–4), often making it a 'for repair' item rather than a wearable one.
Fixability
Small holes can be professionally reweaved or discreetly darned, which can recover some grade, but the repair itself must then be disclosed. Untreated, they tend to spread.
How to disclose it
Always disclose and photograph every hole with a scale reference. Moth holes are the classic hidden flaw that drives wool-resale disputes.
Moth holes — frequently asked
- How much do moth holes lower a grade?
- A lot — they're structural damage. A single small hole caps an item below Excellent; several push it to Fair or Poor. Disclosed and photographed, moth-damaged pieces still sell as repair or reweave projects.
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