Yak – the animal

Yaks live in the high mountains of Asia and are perfectly adapted to extreme conditions. In Mongolia they have been kept for over 5000 years, in close symbiosis with nomadic families. Most of the animals are domesticated and provide everything necessary for survival in the highlands: milk, meat, leather, wool and even fuel in the form of dry dung. They can reach a weight of over a ton.

Yaks are the only cattle to have a multi-layered coat. It is made up of coarse outer hairs, a protective intermediate layer and a fine, warm undercoat. This natural construction preserves them from icy cold temperatures down to minus 40 degrees and is breathable at the same time, keeping the animal comfortable in summer. Long belly hairs offer additional protection on frosty nights, while short, powerful legs enable good grip in the steep mountains. In times of extreme cold, yaks even slow their respiratory rate to up to seven breaths per minute in order to save valuable energy.

In spring the yak loses its fine undercoat, which is carefully combed out and used for the production of yarn. This way of life not only makes yak wool of particularly high quality, but also more sustainable than many other exclusive fibres. Yaks graze in harmony with their environment, without tearing up roots or damaging soil.

Yak fibres – characteristics

Yak wool is one of the most exclusive fibres in the world. It is incredibly soft and light, yet very warm. The diameter of the fibre is 15 to 19 microns, which is comparable to cashmere. Combed out once a year, the fine undercoat yields about 300 to 500 grams of wool per animal once it has been separated from the coarse guard hairs.

Yak fibres owe their lightness and excellent thermal qualities to a hollow interior. This makes them especially good for warm, light, insulating clothing. The fibres are absorbent and at the same time they release moisture again quickly. Garments made from yak wool feel soft, have a smooth drape and are comfortable to wear. The natural shades, from dark brown to black, also give the wool a calm, elegant effect.

LANGYARNS – yarns with yak

YAK

A classic yarn composed of 70 % extrafine merino wool and 30 % yak. Splendidly soft, it is available in beautiful colours. Ideal for all who love the touch of pure elegance on the skin.

VAYA

VAYA is created from a chainette strand of cotton combined with extrafine merino fibres for warmth and dark yak fibres for depth and character. This mixture produces even stitch definition with a lively structure – for knitting and crochet pieces you can enjoy wearing all year round.

NOMAD

NOMAD is a little thinner than YAK and warmer than VAYA. The yarn has a soft, light haptic and is comfortable to wear. Due to its chainette construction the yarn is elastic but stable, knitting up to produce even stitches. The natural yak fibres give NOMAD a subtle grey-brown undertone that emphasises the original beauty and depth of the fibres.