Bison down
Also known as: American bison down, Bison cashmere, Buffalo down
Ultra-fine down hair of the American bison — 12–29 µm, warmer per gram than merino, lanolin-free.
Description
Bison down is the fine undercoat of the American bison Bison bison. It lies beneath the coarse, weatherproof guard hair and grows in ahead of winter. A full-grown animal yields about 1–2 kg of down per year. Unlike sheep the fleece is not shorn but combed from the coat during the spring moult or recovered as a by-product from hides in meat production.
At 12–29 µm bison down is finer than most merino qualities and is often marketed as "North American cashmere". The hollow fibre structure insulates at extremely low weight — ideal for Arctic outdoor wear. Bison down contains no lanolin, so it is hypoallergenic and odour-resistant. Brands such as The Buffalo Wool Co. (USA) or Bison Wool (Canada) process the fibre into beanies, scarves, socks and base layers — usually priced in the range of top-quality cashmere.
- Fine winter undercoat (12–29 µm) — finer than merino
- Only 1–2 kg down per animal per year — genuine niche fibre
- North American "bison cashmere", often a by-product
- Hypoallergenic, lanolin-free, ultra-light and warm
Properties
| Fibre type | Natural fibre (animal, bison undercoat) |
|---|---|
| Fineness | 12–29 µm (finer than merino) |
| Yield | 1–2 kg down per animal per year |
| Origin | USA, Canada — by-product of bison herds |
| Application | Beanies, scarves, socks, base layers, luxury knitwear |
Related product categories
Sources & references
1- Wikipedia: Amerikanischer Bison Wikipedia — Freie Enzyklopädie https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amerikanischer_Bison
