Qiviut (musk-ox wool)
Also known as: Qiviut, musk ox down, musk ox underwool
Ultra-light undercoat of the Arctic musk ox — eight times warmer than sheep's wool and softer than cashmere.
Description
Qiviut is the fine, hollow undercoat of the Arctic musk ox (Ovibos moschatus). Each spring the animal sheds its winter under-fleece in one shot; it is combed from the guard hair by hand or collected from rocks and shrubs. A single animal yields only around 1.8–2.7 kg of cleaned fibre per year — making qiviut one of the rarest and most expensive natural fibres in the world.
The fibre is remarkably light, soft and virtually free of lanolin and the microscopic barbs of sheep's wool, so it is hypoallergenic, non-scratchy and will not felt in the wash. Classic uses are luxury scarves, hats, gloves and ultra-fine knitted sweaters — often produced by indigenous co-operatives in Alaska and Canada.
- Roughly eight times warmer than sheep's wool at minimal weight
- Does not felt, does not itch — hypoallergenic
- Natural shades from light grey to dark brown, dyes very well
- Extremely limited (well under 20 t/year worldwide) — a luxury niche
Properties
| Fibre type | Animal natural fibre (wild keratin, hollow) |
|---|---|
| Origin | Alaska, Canada, Greenland (semi-domesticated & wild) |
| Yield per animal | approx. 1.8–2.7 kg/year |
| Warmth | approx. 8× warmer than sheep's wool |
| Application | Scarves, hats, gloves, luxury knitwear |
Related product categories
Sources & references
2- Wikipedia: Qiviut Wikipedia — Freie Enzyklopädie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qiviut
- Wikipedia: Moschusochse Wikipedia — Freie Enzyklopädie https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moschusochse
