Nancy Johnston came across the Khangai yak when she was holidaying in Mongolia. She formulated a plan to use the yak to help preserve Mongolia's landscape.
Courtesy Tengri
Mongolia is a leading supplier of cashmere, which is made from goat hair. But goats' destructive grazing habits are damaging the country's land. Johnston's idea was to switch the production of cashmere into yak wool.
Courtesy Tengri
Johnston has been helping herders switch to producing yak wool, and using their yak wool for her high-end British knitwear label Tengri. She says yak wool is soft and warm, and that the animal is less damaging to the environment.
Courtesy Tengri
Undercoat —
Each year, yaks produce a soft, fine undercoat -- or down hair -- during the winter.
Courtesy Tengri
Harvesting —
Mongolian herders harvest the fine undercoats of the yaks in the spring by combing the animals.
Courtesy Tengri
Separating —
They then separate the down hair from the outer hair.
Courtesy Tengri
Mongolia to factories —
It's then sent to factories to perform a scouring and de-hairing process and further remove any coarse residue hair. The fiber is then spun and twisted into fine yarn, ready to be made into clothing such as coats, sweaters, scarves or socks.
Courtesy Tengri
Bespoke pieces —
Savile Row tailor Huntsman is one of the high-end retailers that have teamed up with Tengri.