The winter jacket that you need to know about
Is this the most astonishing breakthrough in outdoor clothing since the ice age?
Words: Matthew Drake
Nothing has changed for nearly two million years. In the ice-bound tundras of Alaska, northern Canada and Greenland, only one beast survives amid the most extreme conditions known to man. The Musk Ox, a prehistoric mammal of epic stature, endures where nothing else has ever stood a chance. No trees grow in these frosted wastelands where the mercury plummets to a devastating −80 °F. Yet these survivors dig their hooves in and beat the harshest conditions the gods can throw at them.
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Time, they know, is on the side of any beast whose indigenous name translates as “The bearded one.” Around 125,000 still roam the earth, carrying with them the closely guarded secret of success. Now things have changed… An intrepid team of British designers have harnessed the beast’s survival technique. QIVIUT & CO is the vision of a London based entrepreneur who learnt of Musk Ox fibre’s exotic wonder while living in Alaska, one of the three places in the world the mammal still inhabits in numbers. Softer than cashmere, warmer than wool, the beast’s downy natural hair fibre, known as qiviut (“QIV-ee-uht”), is extremely scarce and difficult to source. Garments made with this sacred material are, by necessity, limited editions. QIVIUT & CO’s ultra luxury niche brand of clothing and accessories has created just 500 individually numbered editions of The Qiviut Jacket, the ultimate outdoor jacket for any occasion, giving unparalleled warmth.
Like most hoofed mammals whose hair is used for luxury fibre – goats, alpaca, vicuña – Musk Ox have long, durable outer guard hair and the soft, downy qiviut that grows closer to the skin and is shed annually. Each hair of the fibre is a sealed hollow strand containing stable air, the best form of thermal insulation. It gives Musk Ox fibre an ability to insulate superior to any other natural material, feather or fibre, on a like for like basis. At the same time, qiviut has an average fibre diameter finer than cashmere or any other luxury fibre resulting in unparalleled hand feel when knitted or woven. Ultra-Warm. Ultra-Soft. Ultra-Exclusive.
The gender neutral flagship product sets a new standard for stylish performance outerwear. A slim profile unmatched by feather filled garments. Water resistant outer shell. Unique “sandwich” insulation technique combining qiviut with high performance synthetic. Removable arctic collar, insulated hood and knitted hood wind baffle. Provided with a Certificate of Authenticity documenting the registered jacket number. The Qiviut Jacket – suits any weather condition or social setting. Softer than cashmere, warmer than wool. The Qiviut Jacket priced at £1,200.
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