At MyCashmere, we always keep sustainability front of mind in each and every choice that we make. We believe that by making conscious and sustainable decisions today, we can protect the future of the fashion industry for years to come. Learn more about sustainable choices in our yarns and packaging below.
CASHMERE’S DEMAND AND ITS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Due to the tiny amount of cashmere each goat produces, it is an extremely rare fibre. It takes roughly four goats to produce enough fibres to make a single cashmere jumper, whereas one sheep produces enough fibres for five wool jumpers. Historically, this meant that cashmere used to be a luxury material at a premium price. Nowadays, however, cashmere is accessible in most high-street shops at affordable pricing.
The consequence of the increased demand from the fast fashion industry is that farmers have had to massively increase their herds, resulting in a significant desertification of the Mongolian grassland. An overabundance of grazing cashmere goats naturally put a strain on the soil, preventing the grass from growing. This is where the work of the herders to regrow the grass is so imperative. But with increasing demand and size of herds, this is simply not feasible. Around 70% of this once-flourishing terrain has been overgrazed by the roughly 30 million cashmere goats inhabiting it today. By comparison, there were only 2.3 million goats in Mongolia in 1994.
This is why it's so important to only support sustainably sourced and certified yarns—a non-negotiable standard for our cashmere collections now and for the future.
OUR 100% CASHMERE YARN
Our incredibly soft 100% cashmere yarn is certified by the Sustainable Fibre Alliance (SFA), an independent and accredited body, who monitors the chain of custody from the cashmere herders in Mongolia to the spinners producing our yarns. The SFA only accredits herders, who meet a rigorous list of measures that protect the livelihoods of the herders and the goats, ensuring the longevity of the cashmere industry.
RECYCLED CASHMERE
Our second yarn uses Re.Verso™ – recycled cashmere made from post-factory cashmere leftovers in Italy. By using this re-engineered material, we create luxuriously soft cashmere pieces, whilst promoting a more sustainable and fully circular fashion industry.
HOW IS RECYCLED CASHMERE MADE?
Firstly, cashmere leftovers from factories are collected and carefully hand sorted to separate the cashmere yarns. (Re.Verso™ yarns are rarely re-dyed in order to minimize the environmental impact, therefore the yarns are sorted by colour and sent for testing to ensure their content and chemical safety.) The yarns are then sanitized and shredded back into a fibre form, which is then spun into yarn for our garments.
Re.Verso™ is also GRS (Global Recycling Standard) certified – guaranteeing that every recycling step is traceable and verified.
WHAT IS SLOW FASHION?
To put it simply, slow fashion is the opposite of fast fashion. It means consciously buying long-lasting, higher quality garments, considering the processes and materials that go into making these garments. By joining the slow fashion movement, we help to ensure the longevity of the fashion industry by reducing our consumption, which will have positive long-term effects on the planet, the people and the animals that produce our garments.
Due to the nature and long-lasting quality of cashmere, it can be considered a sustainable and slow fashion fibre in its own right. If taken care of in the right way, cashmere can last you a lifetime, and it's not uncommon for cashmere to be passed down amongst family and friends.
This is why it's so important to us to share our knowledge with you, what makes cashmere so special and why it's worth the investment. We also want to help you take care of your MyCashmere pieces, to ensure that their beauty will last over time.
PACKAGING
When we started looking into the packaging that would deliver your MyCashmere pieces to you, we evaluated every possible design option and material type. After an extensive search, we finally found the most perfect grass paper packaging, which is completely biodegradable and free from plastic. Made here in the european union.
Our wrapping paper is made out of 100% biodegradable and compostable post consumer waste.
Even the stickers that close the wrapping paper have been responsibly sourced, and are both biodegradable and compostable.
THE STORY
ABOUT CASHMERE
OUR PRODUCTION
CARE
