Yak Sweaters

Yak wool comes from yaks raised on the Tibetan plateau, where extreme cold produces an exceptionally soft and warm undercoat. The down undercoat fiber is finer than the outer guard hair and soft against skin. Yak wool's properties sit between merino and cashmere — warmer than merino weight-for-weight, softer than coarse wool but slightly less soft than the finest cashmere. Naturally hypoallergenic (no lanolin) and more durable than cashmere fibers.

Cold-weather warmth — yak insulates better than cashmere weight-for-weight, so a thinner yak sweater handles the same cold as a thicker cashmere. Lanolin sensitivity — yak wool contains no lanolin, suitable for shoppers who react to wool. Durability — yak fibers have stronger tensile strength than cashmere, so yak sweaters hold shape across more wear cycles. The trade-off: yak is less soft than the finest cashmere and less widely available.

Yak sweaters run true to size with a close-to-relaxed fit through the body. Sleeves end at the wrist with ribbed cuffs. The slightly more textured hand of yak wool reads slightly more casual than smooth cashmere — best for casual office, weekend, and cold-weather wear rather than the dressiest formal occasions where cashmere reads more polished.

Hand wash cool with mild wool detergent. Lay flat to dry — never hang wet yak wool (the weight of water stretches shoulders) and never tumble dry (heat felts the fiber). Store folded with cedar to deter moths. With proper care, yak wool sweaters hold shape, warmth, and color across many years of wear.