Not all cashmere is created equal! Here is a guide to help you determine what sustainability really means.
High quality, or grade ‘A’ cashmere with the longest, finest fiber length is often closely controlled and certified. Grades ‘B’ and ‘C’, comprise a shorter and thicker fiber length and are gathered from inferior quality stock. These lower qualities are also often not regulated with regard to animal and worker rights, purity and ethical methods of production.
Use of lower grades of cashmere in garments also often result in increased pilling and inferior wearability. Thus, the higher the cashmere quality, the more sustainable the garment.
Ethically and sustainably produced cashmere brands are increasingly supported by dedicated watchdog organizations such as The Good Cashmere Standard by AbTF®️ and The Sustainable Fibre Alliance (SFA)
The purpose of these organisations is to support restoration and preservation of vital grasslands, ensure the fair and humane treatment of the people and animals involved in the production cashmere garments, provide full transparency throughout the production process and aid in the transformation of the complex supply chain from herders to retailers.
Cashmere production supported by such organisations is tracked from farm to finished product, thus ensuring a high level of ethical and environmental viability.
Henderson Cashmere uses only the finest grade ‘A’ fibers in all of our cashmere garments. Both Henderson Cashmere and out partner mill in Inner Mongolia are proud members of The Good Cashmere Standard by AbTF®️ at the premium black label level, guaranteeing that only 'Grade A' cashmere fibres are used in all of our garments.
Our partner in Inner Mongolia is also monitored and certified by the Okeo-tex®️ standard 100, Amfori – Trade with Purpose and The Sustainable Fiber Alliance (SFA) Scope certification- ensuring quality in production.
At Henderson Cashmere we believe that each and every garment designer and manufacturer has a responsibility to ensure that these ethical and environmental standards of sustainability are embraced and upheld. Our commitment to these standards is at the foundation of our company and extends into all facets of our brand, from finding the most environmentally-friendly methods of shipping and distribution available to our choice of recycled/recyclable packaging.
Find out more about our commitment to ethically and sustainably produced cashmere here