Mongolian high quality cashmere is in demand by international brands
Economy
Ulaanbaatar/MONTSAME/. Mongolia
produces 48 percent of the total raw cashmere in the world. For centuries, Mongolian nomads have a long tradition of raising five kinds of livestock,
including goats, in the vast territory and harsh climate, which resulted in
four naturally occurring colours that nomads are able to obtain from their
goats.
The naturally
occurring colours that are supplied by Mongolian nomads are white, beige, warm
gray and brown. On the contrary, the cashmere supplied by China (Inner
Mongolia) are obtained from goats that are raised in restricted farming
facility. It limits naturally occurring colours by two colours.
Mongolian
cashmere manufacturers, in particular Gobi Corporation produces its cashmere
products by using four naturally occurring colors under its Gobi Organic label.
It is highly valued and sought after by consumers of Japanese, French, German,
Canadian and South Korean markets.
Gobi Corporation was established in 1981 and is one of the biggest vertically
integrated cashmere factories with the capacity to produce 1.5 million pieces
of knitwear, 1.1 million meters of woven products and 162,000 pieces of sewn
products annually, making it one of the world’s biggest cashmere coat producer
in the world. The vertically integrated factory has been able to control and
monitor its quality which has been valued by traders and wholesalers all around
the world. The company has been able to implement total quality control in all
of its processes. As of today, the company sells its products at 64 franchise
stores and flagships in 43 cities across the world.
As
sustainability has become a big part of the market, cashmere fibers obtained
from naturally bred goats are in high demand and are being valued by the
market, thus grabbing the interest of Italian and Chinese cashmere
manufacturers.
As of today, 85
percent of the total raw cashmere supplied by Mongolia are being purchased by
companies from China, Italy and England in scoured /washed/ or de-haired form
which are then used to produce garments to be sold under world known high end
luxurious brands. It shows the quality and value that Mongolian raw cashmere
can offer to world renowned brands.
Mongolian
cashmere fibers are longer in length compared to Chinese cashmere fibers,
therefore, resulting in higher quality cashmere yarns. High quality cashmere
yarns directly influence on the quality of finished garments.
Mongolian
producers are using up-to-date technology to produce high quality products from
its initial stage of primary production to the final stage of garment
production to supply to the international market.
The
Alashanzuoqi white cashmere goats in China are well known for its white
cashmere. Due to the high demand for this type of cashmere and high value for
its white cashmere, nomads in certain regions in Mongolia (Bayankhongor
province) have started herding white goats with a purpose to get the high value
for its raw cashmere. As a result, we have high quality white cashmere.
Furthermore, there are certain regions in Mongolia that are well-known with their
high quality specific colors, which allow companies to work on those regions to
get the highest quality raw cashmere that can be supplied to the world market.
Gobi
Corporation has been working closely with Sustainable Fiber Alliance (SFA) with
aims to educate nomads, giving them knowledge on sustainability. The
Sustainable Fiber Alliance is a non-profit organization based in London, UK
with an aim to promote global sustainability standards for cashmere production
in order to preserve and restore grasslands, ensure animal welfare and secure
livelihoods. Some notable brands which are members of the SFA organization are Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Gobi
Corporation and Joshua Ellis.
In this regard, it has organized training and
is on track to build wells and warehouses which will help nomads to herd their
goats sustainable while preparing its cashmere in a safe environment.