The Best Wool, Naturally
Mongolia covers an area of over 1.5 million square kilometers and is home to just 3.3 million people; making it the world’s 18th largest and most sparsely populated sovereign state. Landlocked and featuring vast desert and semidesert plains, grassy steppes, and rugged mountains, the country is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south.
The exceptional quality of Mongolian cashmere and yak wool is directly related to the country's diverse geography and harsh continental climate. The bitterly cold winters and long hot summers create an environment where goats and yaks develop an incredibly soft and insulating undercoat; yielding fibers of unique length, fineness and durability.
As far as the raw material goes, Mongolia is a major player in the global cashmere market. The UNDP estimate that the country supplies around 40% of the world’s cashmere wool (China accounts for ~50%, mainly from its northern region of Inner Mongolia).
However, around 80% of this wool is exported in its raw form to countries such as Italy and the U.K., where the yarn is spun into finished textiles. These products are then often sold to customers at a huge profit margin, mostly due to the brand recognition enjoyed by those western fashion companies.
Buy Mongolian!
This means that the Mongolian economy is currently missing out on a large chunk of the profits up the 'value chain' from their own natural resources. At Unur Cashmere, we believe there is no good reason for this.
Mongolia has a number of established clothing manufacturing companies, all of which have oustanding design teams and state-of-the-art production facilities. They also adhere to industry best practice regarding sustainability and achieving a fair deal for the nomadic farmers that supply the wool. As should reasonably be expected from businesses located so close to the roots of their industry.
We know all this because we are a Mongolian-run company ourselves. We regularly visit their operations and are proud to call them our suppliers of choice.
Buying from Unur Cashmere means a better deal for everyone; the farming communities, the local economy and especially our customers!
Yak Wool vs. Cashmere
Cashmere is celebrated worldwide for its soft and luxurious warmth; being up to eight times more insulating than other standard wool types. At the same time, it allows air to circulate through, making cashmere garments breathable and thus ideal for maintaining comfort across varying temperatures. Add to that durability and longevity, with garments becoming softer over time, and it is no surprise the esteem in which cashmere is held.
It is far less well known that yak wool, or khullu, shares many of the same benefits as cashmere and in some regards can even be considered superior. For example, although it has a slightly different feel, we consider yak wool to be equally soft as cashmere.
However, given the hollow structure of its fibres, yak wool provides an even better warmth-to-weight ratio, and is actually on average 30% warmer and 1.6 times more breathable than cashmere!
Yak wool has other important qualities too. It is particularly rich in amino acids, which brings several benefits:
1. Durability: amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. The high levels in yak wool mean it is more elastic and can withstand wear and tear to a greater degree than other wools.
2. Moisture wicking and anti-microbial: the fibres actively bind and isolate bacteria as sweat is absorbed from the skin’s surface and travels outward, where it evaporates. This makes it odour resistant and require less frequent washing.
3. Hypoallergenic: yak wool is less likely to cause allergic reactions, making it suitable for sensitive skin.
These properties make yak wool an ideal material for high-quality, sustainable, and comfortable clothing. It's no suprise that yak wool garments can last a lifetime and become cherished heirlooms.
Watch out for more yak wool products coming in the future. Sign up to our newletter to be the first to know when they arrive!