Qiviut

Animal natural fiber

Musk Ox (Ovibos moschatus )

Black to yellow- brown

As Quiviut or Qiviut [ Qiviut ] the undercoat of the musk ox is called. It is processed by the Inuit cooperative " Oomingmak ". There, about 200 people are employed by the processing. The wool is very high quality, and unlike sheep wool will shrink at any temperature in the water. The single fiber has a diameter of about 10-20 microns, and thus one of the finest fibers, which owns a mammal.

History

The wool of the musk ox is used only for a relatively short time. In 1953, the anthropologist John J. Teal Jr. began researching the wool. Unlike sheep musk oxen can not be shaved. Her warm undercoat can only be combed out or collected at abrasion sites. This is only once a year, is very complex, and even a full-grown ox takes only about 2 to 3 kg Quiviut.

In 1964, the musk ox farm was established and in 1968 it began to train people in the processing of wool. In 1969, the cooperative was founded. Both the Farm in Palmer (Alaska ) and the cooperative remain.

Other wool carrier

In addition to the musk ox there are other animals with very fine wool. All live in extreme climatic regions and are threatened with extinction in part:

• Angora ( Angora )
• Angora goat ( mohair )
• Guanaco
• Tibetan antelope ( shahtoosh )
• Kashmir goat ( cashmere wool)
• Vicuna