What is Qiviuk?
Once a year, when the long rays of sunlight gradually begin to pierce the Arctic's winter darkness, the frozen tundra transforms into a landscape of luxury as rumbling herds of Muskox begin to show their downy undercoat called Qiviuk (kiv-ee-uk or kiv-ee-ut). A fiber softer than cashmere and warmer than wool. This exquisitely soft undercoat is an exceptionally fine and precious fibre that protects this prehistoric mammal (that once roamed with the mastadons) against the extreme cold of the Canadian High Arctic.

The average merino wool fibre is nearly twice as thick as qiviuk. But even better, under a microscope, a strand of qiviuk has almost none of the scales apparent on nearly every other animal fibre - including the most luxurious. "It's softer than cashmere," says Fernando Alvarez, founder of Qiviuk. "It's lighter. It's warmer."

The Process
We have combined the most dedicated and experienced craftsmen with advanced technology to carefully reach the finest products possible. Every step is patiently executed without compromising attention to detail.

The Muskox
The Muskox story begins 600,000 years ago when millions of these short-legged, shaggy behemoths walked across the Bering Land Bridge during the last Ice Age and managed to survive an era that most animals (including the wooly mammoth) did not. Fossil records indicate that the muskox traveled as far south as Tennessee, although they now live exclusively in the Canadian Arctic, Alaska, and Greenland. The global population is estimated at 180,000.

The Company
Peru, where the most advanced textile techniques were developed in pre-colonial times and where precious fibres such as vicuna and pima cotton are found is where our story begins. Knitting was always a tradition to the extended family of our founding members. The foothills and highlands of Southern Peru are an important textile production center of noble fibres. This environment was not only inspirational but the basis for the development and expansion of our business.

After relocating to Western Canada, the opportunity and challenge of starting a knitwear business became evident, resulting in a wholesale and distribution operation under Nando Sweaters Inc. headquartered in the beautiful Banff National Park. With emphasis in hand knitting we were able to successfully develop several beautiful lines made of the finest yarn and fibres of the world. These included vicuna, guanaco, and our own trademarked Heavely Alpaca and Suri. Jacques Cartier Clothier (named after the French explorer of Canada) was incorporated in 1995, as part of our retail strategy. Our Qiviuk flagship store was created in 1999 in the beautiful Chateau Lake Louise, as part of our group of boutiques, and in fall 2008 opened our new location at the Plaza in New York.

We are proud to have our garments in the wardrobes of heads of state and celebrities, such as the Queen of England and Canada, Francis Ford Coppola, and Sarah Jessica Parker. We are a small company with a large commitment to exploring and preserving rare and fine fibers in a sustainable and socially conscious way.

Qiviuk shops are located in some of the most prestigious locations in the world, including the Plaza in New York, Chateau Lake Louise, and the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. Now we at Hansen's Clothing are proud to be able to bring these products to you online.

Product Care
We recommend you dry clean or hand wash your Qiviuk product. Special care is needed in washing, drying and ironing your Qiviuk garment..

1. Wash by hand in cold water (maximum 30 degrees) using only the mildest detergent

2. For drying, spread garment out on a towel-covered, flat surface in the shade. Remove towel when garment is damp.

3. Steam-iron, pressing down shortly and delicately on the garment.