Muskoxen

Muskoxen are bovids that thrive in the cold climate of most of Gfiewistan and neighboring countries, being much better adapted to it than sheep. One of Gfiewistan’s primary exports has always been muskox wool. As it is both softer and stronger than sheep wool, and in addition also warmer, it could be sold at a high price and so brought considerable wealth to the country, which from the 1600s helped allow it to fund a mushrooming amount of workshops near rivers and pastureland manufacturing clothing and blankets.

By the 1900s there was enough capital to industrialize the production, being one of the first economic sectors to move away from handwork. This helped, alongside the steel industry and railway sector kickstart the industrial revolution in Gfiewistan.

However, hand-woven wool remains important, both commercially as a high-end product and culturally as a traditional craft. Knitting and dying patterns are unique to each region, sometimes village, and often have heavily symbolized motives taken from local history. Colors tend to be somewhat darker and subdued, as muskox wool is naturally grey and does not take bleaching well.

Aside from wool, muskox milk from special breeds is the most common source of dairy in most of Gfiewistan, and muskox meat is prized as well, it being important in traditional diets as a source of protein and iron, and popular in modern ones, being mild, but flavorful. Muskox horns are often carved into drinking vessels, decorations, or cutlery. In Piir, the premodern native religion of the country, many religious items are made from it as well, to underline the central importance of the animal.