Yak down is the soft undercoat that yaks shed each spring, combed by herders on the high plateaux of Mongolia and Tibet. It sits between merino and cashmere for fineness, is naturally dark brown to grey, and is favoured by slow-fashion knitwear houses for its low environmental footprint and the income it brings to nomadic herders.
What makes yak down luxury quality
- Fineness: quality yak down is 16–19 µm, comparable to Grade B cashmere.
- Colour: natural shades of chocolate, grey and cream; dyeing is limited to darker tones.
- Durability: yak fibre is stronger than cashmere and pills less.
- Sustainability: yaks graze without degrading grassland the way over-stocked cashmere goats can.
Care
Hand-wash cool and dry flat; treat like cashmere. See the full care guide.
Houses working in yak down
No houses listed yet.
Yak down: frequently asked questions
Is yak wool as soft as cashmere?
Good yak down is nearly as soft as cashmere and slightly warmer, but with a drier, more matte hand. It is more durable and less prone to pilling, which is why several luxury knitwear houses now offer it alongside cashmere.
Which brands make the best yak down knitwear?
No house in the index currently specialises in yak down.