Undyed Mongolian Yak Wool
Oliver Charles X Hangai
Yak wool isn't a popular material. We love it, of course, but only a handful in the US knit and weave with it today; that number was much smaller 5 years ago, which makes this story somewhat serendipitous.
We (Slater and Jack) are from a small town in Colorado, where 2 other yak wool companies happen to live within a stone's throw away. A few years ago, while we were researching yak wool, we became friends with these other yak enthusiasts; after all, there were only so many people who we could talk about yaks with for hours.
Of these enthusiasts, there was a couple, Bill and Betina, who, as a family, built Hangai Mountain Textiles. For nearly a decade, they've carefully sourced yak wool blankets from the Hangai Mountains, located in Mongolia's heartland and where they called home before moving to Colorado.
Besides sharing a hometown, Oliver Charles and Hangai share a lot in common. Both our sweaters and blankets share the same stitch pattern, soft hand feel, and they're both made from luxurious yak wool. It's like this collaboration was meant to be!
100% Yak Wool Blankets
Deep in Mongolia's heartland, a hearty beast lazily picks through the tundra in search of tasty treasures hidden beneath. Protected by a thick layer of wool that runs elegantly from its neck down and around its portly belly, the mighty yak is unbothered by the ferocious bite of the cold steppe. Without this magical wool, the yaks would not be able to survive the harsh winters that envelop these lands each year.
Unlike our sweaters that are 3D-knit in Brooklyn, NY, the blankets are made in Mongolia from start to finish. Hangai works with local herder families, associations, and cooperatives to source the luxurious fibers that come together to make these uniquely cozy blankets. Focusing on fair trade, sustainable production, local empowerment, and traceability at each step of the way.