Cashmere is one of the most sought-after fibers in the world. It’s fine hairs are softer, lighter, and can be up to three times more insulating than sheep wool. It has been a prized material for centuries.

Cashmere is made from the processing of the hair of the Capra Hircus goat that lives on the Tibetan highlands and in Mongolia.

Mongolian nomads have a long tradition of raising cashmere goats. Today, Mongolia produces more than 40 percent of the total raw cashmere in the world. What makes Mongolian cashmere so sought-after is the country’s geographic location, which features extremely cold winters and hot summers ... and the nomadic approach to pastoral animal husbandry.

To survive Mongolia’s harsh winters, cashmere goats grow long, fine fibers to insulate them from the cold. At the end of the winter season, these fibers are hand combed to minimize the stress that would be caused by shearing (hand combing is a time-consuming, cruelty-free, Mongolian nomad tradition).

Removal of the cashmere fibers, aside from providing income for the herders, also makes the goats more comfortable during Mongolia’s hot summer months. As sustainability has become an important topic in the marketplace, cashmere fibers obtained from naturally bred goats are in great demand and are highly valued by the market.