Yushu Yak Down Cooperative

Each yak gives only 150 grams of down per year. We wait for the natural spring shed鈥攚e never pull or cut. The fibre tells us when it is ready.

The Yushu Plateau

Yushu (鐜夋爲) sits at 3,700鈥?,500 metres in southern Qinghai Province, where the Yangtze, Yellow, and Mekong rivers all begin. This is one of the world's highest pastoral regions, home to over 400,000 yaks鈥攖he largest concentration on the Tibetan Plateau.

The Yushu Yak Down Cooperative represents 280 herding families across three valleys. These families have raised yaks for generations, moving between summer and winter pastures along routes that predate written record.

The Collection

Yak down (the soft undercoat beneath the coarse outer hair) is collected during the natural spring shed, typically April鈥揗ay. Herders comb the fibre from the animals by hand鈥攏ever pulling or cutting. Each yak produces approximately 150 grams of down per year. The cooperative's 280 families collectively harvest roughly 1.2 tonnes of raw down annually.

After collection, the down is hand-sorted to separate the finest undercoat fibres (15鈥?9 microns鈥攆iner than most cashmere) from the coarser guard hairs. The sorted down is then washed in cold river water and sun-dried on clean stone surfaces.

Why Yak Down

Yak down is warmer than cashmere by weight, naturally water-resistant, and hypoallergenic. The fibre's hollow core structure traps air more efficiently than sheep's wool, making it ideal for high-altitude cold. Unlike cashmere production, yak down collection causes no harm to the animal鈥攊t is a byproduct of the natural seasonal cycle.

Working with ALPORA

ALPORA sources raw yak down exclusively through this cooperative. The fibre is then sent to a specialist spinner in Xining for yarn preparation before being woven by partner artisans. ALPORA pays a premium above market rate to support the cooperative's quality standards and sustainable collection practices.