CHUCS Dive & Mountain Shop: 31 Dover Street London W1S 4ND

We’re very excited to announce our first London retail partner, CHUCS Dive and Mountain shop. Located on Dover Street in Mayfair, CHUCS will be carrying a select number of Khunu items this winter so if you’ve never experienced yak, or want to try before you buy, then head down and ask the lovely Amber to kit you out.

We're sure George would have approved of yak.

CHUCS was founded earlier this year by Charles Finch, grandson of the celebrated Himalayan climber and innovator George Finch. Finch (George that is) was an accomplished mountaineer and key member of George Mallory’s now infamous expeditions to Everest. He not only pioneered the use of bottled oxygen at high altitudes, something that really “wasn’t cricket” at the time, but also developed the now essential down jacket. Without such innovations it is questionable whether man would have ever set foot on the “Roof of the World”.

We love the CHUCS philosophy of “Live Well – Stand Tall – Give Freely – Explore Often”, but it was a chance encounter in London that led to a meeting with Charles. Nervously we wondered if they would risk stocking a new brand, but when he finally got his hands on some yak the decision to maintain Finch family tradition and bring London something new and innovative from the Himalayas was an easy one.

GENTLEMEN.  You’re not chasing fashion – nor are we.  We’re creating updated classic sweater styles that are versatile, functional and stylish.  Think rugged luxury.  So sweat in merino and wear your delicate cashmere on special occasions but live in your Khunu.  We’ve updated and introduced new colors in our classic quarter-zip Slingsby.  You’ll find new and more muted colours in the Chimera, including an all-black.  And for a bit of added panache discover the new shawl collar cardigan, inspired by the likes of Mr. Jean-Claude Killy.

LADIES.  We are thrilled to present three stunning new women’s styles for this autumn and winter. Meet Cortina (in 3 colors), Ella (in four colors) and Amelia (in 3 colors).  Each is crafted from pure Himalayan yak wool for warmth, softness and durability combined with subtle yet distinctive stylistic touches.  We’ve also re-stocked some of the favorites, including the chocolate brown and cream Tara hoodie – and there is a new navy color that is soon to be unveiled.  As you’re browsing, do pause to consider that it’s women like this who are behind your new Khunu sweater.

Look good and do good this season with Khunu.

Before starting Khunu we read with great interest the incredibly detailed study conducted by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization on yaks. Whenever I see these amazing animals sitting unconcerned in sub-zero temperatures I’m curious about how they survive such extreme conditions, seemingly in comfort. Research shows that yaks can survive at ambient temperatures down to -40^oC. I know that I most definitely can’t.

Yesterday I went back to the report to work out why this might be, and re-read an interesting temperature analysis which looked at the contribution the fibre makes to keeping the animal warm.  To quote the study:

“The coat consists of three types of fibre: coarse, long fibres with a diameter in excess of 52 m, down fibre with a diameter below 25 m and mid-type hairs with diameters between these two values. The down fibre is a particular attribute of the winter coat of the yak to provide the additional insulation then required.”

As you know, in spring we take that super soft and warm down layer from the animal (by then it’s starting to question the need for all that insulation), and convert it into soft, warm garments just in time for when you need them.

But back to the hard data behind the study:

Measurements were made on ten animals on three successive days in the cold season in February (mean ambient temperature -18^oC) and on nine animals on three days in the warm season at the end of May (mean daytime ambient temperature 22^oC – though somewhat windier at that time than in February). Figures 4.1 and 4.2 show the measurements.

Chart 4.2 shows that, during winter, when the animal retains a greater proportion of its downy fibre, the outer layer is below zero, yet the skin temperature is over 25 degrees centigrade. Downy fibre is clearly warm.

Now we obviously can’t claim that wearing Khunu will raise your skin temperature 25 degress above the ambient air temperature, even though most of our products are made from that very same downy fibre, but we will claim that yak down makes the winters more comfortable and can save you a fortune on central heating bills.

Customers often tell us that wearing Khunu makes them more interesting and attractive to the opposite sex (as is clearly shown here in this photograph). I wholeheartedly agree with this, but in the absence of scientific proof we won’t go making such bold claims.  Science or no science we’re sure of one thing though – when you see the new collection next week you’ll be convinced that there are many good reasons to be wearing yak this winter!

The full FAO study can be found here.

Our new collection will be available on the Khunu website Tuesday 18^th October.  Sneak previews are expected to leak onto our facebook page sometime before then.

I snapped this photograph on a wool sourcing trip to the Tibetan plateau during the last week of September. I’d just emerged, shivering and blearly eyed, from my host’s wool tent and spotted his wife, Dechen, paused in a moment of quiet contemplation whilst tending to the family’s small herd of yaks. I had no idea what her thoughts were, and did not consider asking, but when I see this photograph now, warm and well fed with the Plateau a journey away, I cannot help but think of the many women like Dechen who day in, day out fight nature’s worst to make sure their families are fed and comfortable.

As you sit warm and content next to the fire this winter, spare a thought for the striking yet tough women of the Plateau.

Congratulations to Brian B., the winner of the September ‘Show Us Your Khunu‘ contest!  Brian sent in this stunning photo of him in his Slingsby at Everest base camp.  For winning, Brian gets a free new Khunu of his choice.

Remember, submit your Khunu snapshot for a chance to win a Khunu of your choice, every month.  Photos can be posted on our Facebook page or emailed to snapshots@khunu.com.  The winner for October will be announced in early-November.