The real wild Mongolian yak wool
So-called the ``new cashmere`` in the fashion industry.
A rare fiber almost as thin as cashmere.
When your friend will ask you where your rockin’ pullover comes from. Have you ever thought about saying it’s made with the hair of a semi-wild yak living in the Mongolian steppes? Badass hum. Besides such reputation, this fiber is extreme in many ways: Extremely rare, extremely sustainable, and extremely soft on the body.
The cherry on top, this fiber is collected without harming anyone. Well, if someone is hurt, it will be the herder. Have you ever tried to comb a yak weighing more than a ton? As it is combed manually while the animal is awake, the process could look like a Mongolian rodeo. People say that these huge animals prefer being combed by a woman while singing Tibetan songs…
Handspun – The same ladies spinning our cashmere by hand are also able to spin yak hair. Even though the yak fiber is smaller than cashmere (then more fragile), these ladies have 20 years of experience and know what they are doing. Full trust and respect for their talents.
Handknitted – Finding professional knitting people was difficult, but we made it. A few knitting angels located sporadically around the capital city of Mongolia are pleased to collaborate with Hypechase and knit absolutely outstanding garments designed by our beloved designer Lida Borkhuu.
Machine knit – Spinning by machine offers the possibility to have an extremely thin and regular yarn.
Dyes – Basically, the natural color of a yak is grey platinum or deep dark brown. We dyed it once to have deep black pullovers, but finally, we prefer keeping the original dark chocolate color. Firstly to avoid using chemicals on the process, and secondly, because one of the founders is Belgian and loves chocolate (well, did that sound like a stupid joke?).
Time to clarify the difference between yak hair and yak down, or yak wool. Similar to cashmere from goats, the yak down is located beneath the external hair as extra protection against extremely cold winters. Almost as thin and soft as cashmere, some companies even call this fiber “yak cashmere”. To be technical, cashmere fineness is 12 to 14 microns, yak down is 16 to 20.
Besides being the environmentally friendly alternative to cashmere, yak down has earned recognition for its remarkable qualities such as its moisture-absorbing ability, odor & fire resistance.
The yak down is famous because it absorbs body moisture, doesn’t smell, is practically as soft as cashmere, and better resists in case of fire (who knows). Yak fiber is also good for auto-regulating body heat. Hence, your yak pullover will be warmer or colder than a traditional sheep wool pullover. It is also anti-microbial, hypo-allergenic, and breathable. Unlike a fragile cashmere garment, a yak pullover will follow you to any wilder activities. Wear it many times in a row it won’t smell and it won’t break, no need to iron as well… Simply put: Yak won’t let you down!
- The yaks were first introduced to Mongolia when Buddhist monks used them as a transport medium on their pilgrimages
- Yaks know how to find grass underneath the snow, which cows don’t.
- Yaks can only be combed by his the herder taking care of him, and less afraid by women to be combed.
- Yaks can be found in the Himalayas, Tibet, China, Mongolia, and far north of Siberia.
- Mongolia has a sport called yak polo. Same as horse polo, but with a yak.
We chase the Mongolian goats to comb their hair and make sustainable products with it in many ways. No harm, no chemicals, no hassle!