What is yak down?

Where it comes from

Yakaf’s yak down comes from yaks in Khuvsgul Province, in northern Mongolia, where herders and cooperatives look after the animals through all four seasons.

The fine undercoat helps protect the yaks through Mongolia’s harsh winters, when temperatures in some regions can fall as low as −50°C (−58°F).

How yak down is collected

1. 01

   The yaks shed

   Each year, in late spring and early summer, yaks naturally begin shedding their soft undercoat.

2. 02

   The down is combed out

   As the weather warms, the down loosens and is ready to be gently combed out by herders.

3. 03

   It becomes yarn

   The down is washed, dehaired and spun with Mongolian partners in Ulaanbaatar.

4. 04

   It is knitted

   Jinst Murun knits the yarn into finished garments in its own workshop in Murun, Khuvsgul Province.

Combing and the animals

A partner brand that works with Jinst Murun in Khuvsgul explains that removing the loosened fibre also helps keep the animals healthy, by reducing the risk of parasites and improving the condition of their coat. It reflects the care Mongolian herders have for their livestock.

A fibre that renews every year

Yaks shed their down every year, so the fibre regrows naturally and can be collected again the following spring. The work is rooted in Mongolia’s traditional nomadic herding culture and in the herders who care for their animals through the seasons.

What it is like to wear

Yak down is naturally warm, lightweight, soft and breathable. It suits daily wear, work, travel and leisure, and with proper care the garments keep their shape and quality over time.

Yakaf yak down

Every Yakaf yak down garment is 100% pure yak down, left in its natural colour with no dyes, and made by Jinst Murun in Murun, Khuvsgul Province, Mongolia.

View yak wool knitwear