Yak Wool Is Still The Ultimate Sweater Material

Learn why this natural fiber still comes out on top.

Loved Sweaters Last Longer

Finding a quality sweater seems to be getting harder and harder. But it’s not impossible. Welcome to the third part of my 3-part blog series about finding high-quality, sustainable sweaters and how you can wear them all year long.

This blog is about my discovery of the ultimate sweater material: wool. Join me to discover how my wool tops the list and how choosing the right materials can benefit you and the planet.

• 7 Day Sweater Challenge
• Can 3D-Knitting Save Sweater Quality?
• Wool Is The Ultimate Sweater Material

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When was the last time you found a cute sweater at your favorite store that looked great on the rack, but after wearing it a few times it looked meh?

This is becoming increasingly common as more and more sweaters are made from synthetic fibers.

Synthetic fabrics have different properties and hold up differently from natural fibers. They also just look and feel different than those made from natural fibers. Plus, you may have noticed they also start smelling bad after just one wear!

But what is better than synthetics for a good quality sweater? Let’s look at both types of fibers and what we use at Oliver Charles.

Synthetic VS. Natural Fibers

First off, what is a fiber? A fiber is a long, thin thread of material that can be knitted or woven into a fabric. All fabrics can be characterized as natural or synthetic fibers (or a blend of the two), and both types have pros and cons.

Natural fibers are made out of natural materials (hence the name) that come from plants, animals, or minerals that are then spun into threads and yarns. Some examples include silk, wool, cotton, linen, and jute.

On the other hand, synthetic fibers are man-made, artificial fibers that are extracted and polymerized to be turned into fibers. Some examples include polyester, nylon, spandex, acrylic, and rayon.

Natural fibers are popular for many different reasons. For example, they’re highly absorbent, very durable, and have a lower environmental impact because they aren't derived from chemicals during production and can biodegrade after use.

Synthetics also have benefits, including affordability, stain and water resistance, elasticity, lightness, and durability. Durability can be a double edge sword as these material literally last in landfills for centuries.

The textile industry uses synthetic fibers more often in clothing because they are a cheaper and more easily mass-produced alternative to natural fibers. This is why most sweaters today are made using synthetic fibers.

Not only do they make producing sweaters cheaper, but they make them easier to wash in a standard washing machine. These fibers are often mixed in with natural fibers like cotton or wool to add stretch.

When it comes down to it, natural fibers do reign supreme in the world of sweaters. And if you’re looking for something soft, warm but breathable, and will stand the test of time, wool is the ultimate material.

Kinds Of Wool

Wool is a broad term that can apply to a fiber made from the coat of many different animals — sheep, goats, yak, camel, and even ox (bet you didn’t know that!). Each of these different types of wool has its feel and properties.

Sheep’s wool is the most common and widely available type of wool, though its qualities vary depending on the breed of sheep that produces it. For example, merino wool is specifically made from Merino sheep and is softer than other sheep wools, which tends to be more scratchy and coarse.

Cashmere comes from goats that originally inhabited areas in China, India, Iran, Afghanistan, and Iraq and creates a softer, more silky fabric than sheep’s wool.

Yak wool is very similar to cashmere and merino, except it has more antimicrobial properties, is better at thermoregulating, is better for the environment, and is both stretchy and durable.

Yak Wool Is A Super Sustainable Fiber

For thousands of years, indigenous nomadic herders have stewarded land and animals across the globe. For Tibetan nomadic tribes, yaks are an integral part of life.

Yaks have a low impact on the environment compared to other livestock like cashmere goats. They graze by only removing the top of plants instead of their whole root (unlike goats), which preserves the delicate balance of the ecosystem in high-altitude regions.

In terms of production, yak wool is produced on a much smaller scale than other wools. The down that is used to make yak wool like ours is called khullu. This soft down is either naturally shed or nomadic herders that take care of the yak comb out the down by hand each spring.

Yaks also have darker coats than other wool-producing animals, which tend to be white or light in color. The naturally brown fibers are more difficult to dye with artificial colors, which means you’re more likely to find them in natural, deeper colors with flecks in the fabric.

What It’s Like To Actually Wear A Yak Wool Sweater

Not everyone loves to wear wool. For many people, it comes down to having sensitive skin or being allergic to wool or cashmere.

I am someone who falls in the sensitive skin department, so, I generally avoid wool sweaters or have to wear a long-sleeved shirt underneath to avoid scratching and itching all day long.

With Oliver Charles yak wool sweaters, I don’t experience this issue. Their sweaters are made from 100% yak wool or a combination of Merino and yak wool. Because these fibers tend to be softer, I can wear my sweater for hours without feeling itchy — a major win for me.

In fact, my Oliver Charles sweater feels much softer than any sweater I own made with synthetic fibers.

And because it is 3D-knit, it is completely seamless, which means I get to avoid any bothersome seams.

Materials Matter: Choosing Sweaters With Intention

Synthetic fibers were created to mimic natural fibers and they do, to an extent that many people don’t notice the difference between them.

They can feel soft, and claim to be breathable, but in the long run, they don’t perform or hold up the same way.

Natural materials, especially yak wool, will last longer, keep you warmer, treat your body better, and send a message to makers that materials matter.

If you’re into creating a more sustainable capsule wardrobe and considering clothing as an investment, you’ll want to choose sweaters made from high-quality materials like yak and merino wool. Both these fibers last a lifetime and are very friendly to the skin.

If you believe that every good wardrobe starts with owning less and owning better, consider buying yourself an OLIVER CHARLES sweater.