Sourcing, Dyeing and Biodegradable and minimum waste

Sourcing Our Cashmere

All our garments are sourced and produced in Mongolia (not to be confused with inner Mongolia, which is a region in China). Mongolia has a long history of a nomadic way of life. To this day, animals and herders live in harmony because of a deep rooted bond between them. A bond that is crucial to survive the harsh climate in Mongolia. This tradition has been kept alive throughout generations.

Free-Roaming Cashmere Goats

Cashmere is a very fine fiber which comes from cashmere goats. These goats roam freely on the steppes of Mongolia and eat what nature provides. There are many things that make the cashmere fiber so special.

In preperation for the cold Mongolian winters the cashmere goats grow a very fine underhair to sustain them during the harsh climate that is to come. This fine underhair is what makeup our wonderfully soft garments.

In Mongolia goats and sheep roam together in harmony to together survive the harsh winter climate. In each flock there is a sheep to goat ratio. This population ratio controls the size of the flock.

Combing Process

Cashmere is an expensive fiber, not only for its many amazing qualities but because it takes 3-4 goats to provide enough cashmere for one jumper.

Once a year, every spring, as the weather gets warmer, the goats start to shed their underhair and are combed by the nomadic herders. The combing process takes 30-40 min per goat and is a neccessary process for the wellbeing of the goats. If left uncombed they attract ticks and fleas which can cause infections and diseases.

 

Dyeing

The dyes and all other required textile agents (detergent for pre-treatment, dye fixing for lasting colour, and other finishing agents such as flame retardants optical brighteners, softeners and reactive dyes) used in our production have been supplied by Huntsman Advanced Materials (Switzerland) GmbH and certified by GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), Oeko-Tex Standard 100 - LANSOL®, and EU-Ecolabel. The use of dyes, under these standards, are ecological choices that does not intentionally introduce any substances onto the treated textiles which could be subsequently released in amounts above the limits specified in Oeko-Tex Standard 100 classes I – IV or in the environmental criteria specified by the Eco-label for textile products.

Undyed processed cashmere. Cashmere naturally comes in a number of beautiful natural shades such as the one above.

Inside our colourlab our colour experts mix the dyes to achieve vibrant colours.

The cashmere is dyed before being spun into yarn.

Pure cashmere does occure in natural white (not optic white). However, in Mongolia white goats are not nearly as common as brown goats.

Different natural shades can be dyed with the same colour for different results.

The dyed cashmere is then spun into different plies (thicknesses) of yarn.

 

 

Biodegradable & Minimum Waste

Cashmere is a luxurious fiber. It is very light, soft to the hand alongside many other wonderful characteristics that we don’t think about when wearing it. Pure cashmere is naturally biodegradable, extremely breathable, hypoallergenic and protects against the sun’s damaging rays.

Not only does the knitting process itself produce little to no waste but the waste that comes from pure cashmere is also biodegradable and will therefore not fill up or add to our landfills.

 The same characteristics which makes the cashmere so light and warm also gives it its own ventilation system. Making it the perfect fiber both for an active winter lifestyle and for every day all year round wear.