Known as the “diamond fiber” and coveted for its rare, extremely supple and stretchy fabric, cashmere is now gaining popularity outside of the luxury niche. However, this change could have serious environmental consequences for the pastures on which cashmere production depends. At a time when the world is so concerned about environmental change, terms like sustainability, organic and sustainable materials are gaining traction, and the fashion industry is not the last on the list of industries that have a direct impact on the natural environment. So today, with every single purchase we have to make, we need to step back and consider what we are buying and the impact it can have on our planet.
Cashmere is one of the most desirable natural fibers in the world – the fine fibers make it an extremely soft, luxurious garment. Unlike synthetic fibers such as polyester, acrylic, nylon and others, cashmere is a natural fiber that does not degrade and at the same time is very durable, but this comes at a price.
The cashmere does not come from a sheep, as one might assume, but from a cashmere goat. Cashmere fibers are longer, finer, more elastic and more heat resistant than sheep’s wool, making them an excellent base for clothing and blankets. The growing desire for delicate and soft cashmere fabrics has driven the breeding of these cashmere goats. Unfortunately, the production of cashmere wool has increased over the last century to the point that it is no longer sustainable and endangers the environment. Increased grazing due to increasing numbers of goats needed to meet current demand is leading to the eventual destruction of pastures. To make matters worse, most cashmere is produced in Mongolia, where the natural environment is suffering from the increasing threat of desertification and temperatures are rising in Mongolia, as in other parts of the world. In this way, formerly beautiful, untouched grasslands are turning into deserts, which are being devastated by the growing goat population and are also exposed to the influence of climate change.
Both demand and environmental concerns are forcing many prestigious brands to rethink their supply chains and adopt a more sustainable path in cashmere production, which is clearly a challenge. One of the leading brands that is successfully committed to sustainable cashmere production is GOBI, a leading manufacturer of high-quality, 100% authentic Mongolian cashmere for over 40 years. Combining traditional indigenous nomadic knowledge with modern technology, GOBI fulfills its mission to produce comfortable, humane and affordable clothing while ensuring fair and transparent production.
GOBI was founded in 1981 as a state-owned company specializing in the production of 100% high-quality cashmere. Since then, GOBI has become the leading cashmere company in Mongolia. Today, GOBI is proud to present its groundbreaking Sustainable Cashmere project, a three-part collaborative project with local shepherds and an agricultural university team that aims to offer its customers fully traceable products to ensure accountability and transparency at every stage of the supply chain . As of 2020, the project aims to improve the quality of the raw material by ensuring the health and welfare of the animals, conducting breeding selection on a scientific basis, and introducing good Kashmiri training practices to the herdsmen, which also has a positive effect on the quality of the end product.
Also, increasing cashmere quality opens up the opportunity for herders to keep a constant number of animals and continue to generate income without exceeding grazing capacity. This means that the focus is on the quality of the raw material and not on the number of goats, which also helps combat desertification.
Another unique initiative brought to us by GOBI is the “3D Knitting Collection” . What is special about this collection is that GOBI uses the unique “Shima Seiki machine technology” to produce the garments “as a whole” and does not sew individual parts together so that there are no visible seams. In addition, the fabric is particularly comfortable due to the lack of seams on the individual parts, especially for sensitive skin.
From an ecological point of view, this approach offers a number of advantages, such as: B. Minimizing waste and resource consumption. For example, by eliminating the need to assemble the individual parts, there are no problems that can arise when combining colors, patterns and designs, as well as assembly difficulties that create additional waste. In addition, with fewer processing steps, the production of cashmere garments also requires less energy, water and labor, bringing not only environmental but also economic benefits.
Also, the collection is more durable than traditional cashmere garments made using traditional technologies. The machines used to produce it require stronger threads and the highest standards, making the garments more robust.
As a sustainable and eco-friendly brand, GOBI also presents an “organic” collection , characterized by an ever-present natural style in contemporary trends. Naturally colored fibers from Mongolian goats are used for the “Bio” collection and are available in four shades. This diversity, a gift of nature, is due to the geographic and climatic diversity of Mongolia’s vast territory and the deep-rooted culture of Mongolian herdsmen, who do not tolerate monotony. In addition, according to the “organic” concept, GOBI does not use chemicals to dye the fibers, thus avoiding wasting water (up to -20.3%), saving energy (-20.6%) and reducing CO2 emissions ( 20.7% less). The “organic” collection GOBI lets the gifts of nature appear in a new light – comfort, unique style and high-quality cashmere qualities. Thanks to its eco-friendly approach, GOBI offers the best fiber quality, left naturally untouched, while its unique colors convey warmth and vibrancy.
GOBI gives to sustainable production with its CashmeReborn collection a new perspective. In response to the problem of the immense tons of factory waste that is increasingly damaging the environment, the brand is launching a new collection made of 100% cashmere yarn made by reusing yarn leftovers from its own spinning process – the CashmeReborn -Collection.
As part of the current FW22/23 collection, all pieces in the new all-organic and sustainable capsule collection are made from 100% recycled cashmere yarns to reduce the negative impact of classic production on the environment and reflect the company’s gratitude to nature habitat of the important and beloved cashmere goats. The collection consists of only a few pieces, all of which are characterized by a simple design and muted colors such as beige, dark blue and grey. The jumpers and scarves and the special knitted dress with turtleneck feature special Aran and cable knit patterns as well as playful details in the classic fisherman’s rib stitch, which skilfully combine comfort and style. All parts of the collection are made exclusively from recycled cashmere and can be combined with any individual style. As a responsible and sustainable manufacturer of exclusive and high-quality cashmere fashion, GOBI Cashmere wants to focus on the feeling of luxury and comfort, integrating environmental friendliness and sustainability as the most important factors. True to the motto: feel good and do something good!
Image Credits: PR