Cashmere. The word itself conjures images of luxury, warmth, and softness. But have you ever wondered about the journey this desired material takes, from the back of a goat on the Mongolian steppes to the stylish coat you drape over your shoulders? Join us on a journey of discovery as we trace the path of cashmere, from goat to cashmere garment.
The Origins of Cashmere
Sustainability means being in harmony with nature. It means keeping old traditions that have been proven to make soft, high-quality cashmere without hurting the land or animals. This is where our story begins, in the vast and breathtaking landscape of Mongolia.
Mongolian herders have been living on these expansive steppes for thousands of years. Nomads have thrived for ages, and our journey starts from these nomadic communities with their unique way of life. GOBI Cashmere blends ancient craftsmanship with sustainable practices to create 100% pure Mongolian cashmere that must be experienced to be believed.
The Cashmere Harvest
Our journey into the world of cashmere takes us to the heart of Mongolia, where the renowned cashmere goats roam freely. These goats have adapted to the harsh climate of the steppes, developing a thick and incredibly soft undercoat. This undercoat, known as cashmere, forms the basis of our story.
As the warm spring months approach, the cashmere goats begin to naturally shed their warm undercoats. This is when the skilled Mongolian herders step in. They carefully and lovingly comb the cashmere from the goats, ensuring that the animals remain comfortable throughout the process. This sustainable and cruelty-free harvesting method ensures the well-being of both the goats and the environment.
Sorting and Cleaning
With the raw cashmere wool in hand, our journey takes us to the next crucial step: Sorting and Cleaning. This is where the quality of the cashmere is determined.
Creating high-quality cashmere products begins with an intensive sorting process. Every strand of raw cashmere fiber is inspected, with only the most superior fibers meeting the rigorous criteria. This initial sorting phase is crucial, ensuring that subsequent cleaning procedures concentrate solely on preserving the quality of the carefully chosen fibers. This meticulous attention to selecting the finest raw materials serves as the cornerstone for producing superior cashmere garments at GOBI.
Following the rigid sorting stage, the chosen cashmere fibers undergo a comprehensive cleaning process to eliminate impurities and foreign matter. Once thoroughly cleaned, these fibers move through successive steps of carding.
Carding aligns the fibers in a singular direction, enabling the creation of even yarn with enhanced softness. It further refines the cashmere by removing shorter fibers, resulting in an impeccably uniform texture. These meticulous processes ensure the production of exceptionally fine, lustrous cashmere that meets the exacting standards set by GOBI for their premium products.
The Transformation – Spinning the Magic
With the raw cashmere fiber carefully selected, it embarks on the next stage of its transformation – the creation of cashmere yarn. This is where the artistry and science of spinning come into play, turning soft, fluffy cashmere into the versatile material we all know and love.
The combed cashmere is fed into spinning machines that expertly twist and stretch the fibers into thin strands. The precise control of tension and twist during this process determines the thickness and strength of the yarn. It's here that the raw cashmere is truly transformed into the exquisite material we know as cashmere yarn.
Some cashmere yarn is plied, meaning multiple strands are twisted together to create a thicker, more durable yarn. Plying also adds dimension and depth to the yarn, enhancing its appearance and texture.
The Result: Pure Cashmere Yarn
The Dyeing Process - Meticulous Uniformity
Coloring cashmere fibers involves a meticulous process that demands precision and expertise to retain the luxurious quality of this prized material.
Here at GOBI, we use blue sign-approved dyes from Switzerland. The dyeing phase employs a blend of art and science, carefully mixing dyes to achieve the desired hue while maintaining the inherent softness and sheen of the cashmere. Various methods are used for precise color application, ensuring uniformity throughout the fiber length. Temperature and duration play major roles, as the fibers require controlled conditions to absorb the dye evenly without compromising their delicate nature. Attention to detail at every stage of the coloring process is crucial to preserve cashmere's exquisite quality, resulting in vibrant, beautifully hued fibers ready for crafting into luxurious garments and textiles.
Diverse products from different factories
After meticulous processes, the cashmere yarns arrive at their next destination – the weaving, knitting, and sewing factories. Each factory is responsible for the production of different cashmere goods and our talented employees ensure all products are created with the utmost care and love.
- Weaving Factory: Here, the yarn is transformed into cashmere fabric through weaving machines. Skilled workers operate looms to interlace the yarn, creating cashmere fabric that can be used for various purposes, including clothing, blankets, or other textiles.
- Knitting Factory: This factory specializes in using knitting machines to produce cashmere garments directly from the yarn. Skilled knitters and automated machinery can create cashmere sweaters, scarves, hats, and other cashmere knitwear items using this method.
- Sewing Factory: This production process involves receiving the woven cashmere fabric pieces for sewing. The factory’s main focus is on garment assembly. Skilled seamstresses and tailors cut the fabric or knitted pieces according to patterns and then sew and assemble them into finished cashmere garments. These include products such as blazers and coats.
Quality Assurance
Quality is the cornerstone of our brand. We bring the highest-quality cashmere to the world by manufacturing it on a large scale. Instead of using untraceable factories in other countries, we produce our responsibly sourced cashmere in our factory, with our employees.
At every stage of production, rigorous quality control measures are in place. Our experts examine each garment, ensuring that they meet our exact standards. This commitment to quality sets GOBI Cashmere apart, and it's what our customers have come to expect from us.
The Craftsmanship
Since opening our doors in 1981, we've operated in the cashmere industry and the first goat cashmere and camel wool manufacturing facility of its kind in Mongolia. Our journey through the world of cashmere combines ancient tradition with modern technologies to create beautifully affordable items.
Our skilled employees are the heart and soul of our operation. They bring their expertise and craftsmanship to every piece they create. Each garment is a labor of love, a testament to the rich heritage of Mongolian cashmere, and a reflection of our commitment to sustainability.
The End Result
And so, our journey through the world of cashmere comes full circle. From the nomadic herders on the Mongolian steppes to our state-of-the-art factory, from the soft undercoat of cashmere goats to the hands of skilled workers – it's a journey of dedication, sustainability, and quality.
The result? Cashmere garments exude luxury, warmth, and softness. When you wrap yourself in a GOBI Cashmere coat or sweater, you're not just wearing a piece of clothing; you're embracing a tradition, a commitment to sustainability, and a legacy of craftsmanship.
The journey of cashmere is a remarkable one. It's a journey that spans generations, cultures, and landscapes. It's a journey that begins with the humble cashmere goat on the Mongolian steppes and ends with you, enjoying the unparalleled comfort and elegance of a GOBI Cashmere creation. So, the next time you slip into a cashmere sweater or coat, remember the incredible journey that brought it to you – Where Tradition Fuses with Fashion.