Organic  Cashmere

Cashmere wool is finer, stronger, lighter, and approximately three times more insulating than sheep wool. Woven from 100% cashmere in Inner Mongolia, a region known for producing the finest quality cashmere yarn in the world, You will find pure cashmere raw material without the use of added dyes or harmful chemicals. Made with fibers that are softer, thicker, and stronger.

 

💖So excited to have been researching more sustainable cashmere options and to have found these brands listed on this page!

💚 If we want to wear cashmere, why don’t we wear the best version of it?

🙅‍♀️To me, it doesn’t matter how fancy a cashmere brand name is or which celebrity or influencer is promoting it, if their practices are unacceptable if they don’t respect the animals, the workers, or the environment.

🌎 It doesn’t matter how expensive they are and how much they make us pay for their products that are the result of unacceptable working conditions, animal abuse, and resource exploitation.💚We can all find better than that!

Here are my picks made with organic yarn, in a sustainable production process, and eco-friendly packaging. 🍃

👏All this makes our cashmere pick a better, more environmentally friendly, sustainable, and rewarding choice!

What is Cashmere?

It is wool’s close cousin with a finer, softer, and warmer DNA, this luxurious material is one of the most desirable in the world. Born in Kashmir, it takes its name after this northern Indian region but with an anglicized version of the word, AKA: “Cashmere.” Produced and loved for thousands of years, it was originally worn by emperors and eventually brought to Europe in the 19th century. Cashmere doesn’t just have historical relevance – it has also been taken into the 21st century gracefully and has still kept its value.

Why is Cashmere eco-friendly?

In short, it’s nice to the earth, super soft, and lasts a really long time. As a natural fiber, cashmere is cozy but breathable, making it easy to re-wear throughout the year. Plus, it’s wrinkle-resistant (see ya steamers), and is a sustainable option for the earth thanks to responsible sourcing.

Cashmere keeps it au naturale, being 100% biodegradable.

In contrast, synthetic fibers take 70x longer to biodegrade and release hundreds of thousands of micro-plastic fibers into the ocean each time they’re washed.

Not all Cashmere is the same

If we choose to wear cashmere we need to find organic cashmere. Many of you have asked me for a sustainable cashmere brand.  Most cashmere on the market is made without respect for the environment, the animals that are giving us their precious wool, and the workers that are taking care of the process. Why keep buying toxic and unsustainable products from irresponsible and greedy cashmere manufacturers when we can find nicer, safer, and eco-friendly ones?

 

Cashmere Quality: the quality of cashmere is correlated to the different grades that exist. There are three grades: 

 

  • Grade A: la crème de la crème. It has 14 microns width per hair

  • Grade B: the medium ground, around 18-19 microns width per hair

  • Grade C: is the lowest quality, measuring around 30 microns in width per cashmere hair

 

So, contrary to what may be typically believed, the thinner the cashmere, the finer the construction. This ensures top quality for the final product.

The finest cashmere is produced in the Kashmir region of India, where cashmere originated. This is due to the harsh winter conditions of the region, causing Kashmir goats to grow finer, denser hair, that produces the top raw materials for cashmere touchable, wearable pieces.

 

You’re in the presence of 100% Grade A cashmere if:

 

  • It stretches and goes back to its natural shape.

  • Once you run your hand, it does not shed small threads.

  • It feels like soft, melt-in-your-hands fabric.

What does Organic Cashmere mean?

🍃What organic cashmere means, in reality, is that no fertilizer or pesticides are used on the land where the goats graze, organic dyes are used to color the yarn, and specialized water treatments are used which are kinder to the environment. The fantastic news is that alongside being more environmentally conscious,  organic garments are also fundamentally better by delivering a richer color in the dyeing process whilst maintaining an incredibly soft handle. 

 

🌎 These brands strongly believe in the positive environmental impact of Organic production and have already invested heavily in the transition. However, as well as sustainability, their core principle is to manufacture the best quality cashmere, and 100% Organic cashmere is no exception – the quality is discerningly the best. 

 

Organic cashmere

  • Organic dyes and detergents, free from fertilizer and pesticides,

  • Non-allergenic and non-toxic

  • Organic dyes and detergents

  • Biodegradable

  • Free from fertilizers and pesticides

  • Supporting 50% more wildlife and saving bees

  • Fully traceable from Goat to Garment

 

Ethical practices

This is when goats are traditionally herded to maintain their wild lifestyle, and just get an annual cashmere combing during their natural shedding cycle. This is the best sourcing practice, as shearing can leave the goats vulnerable to harsh weather (brr). 

 

GOTS organic certification

It is the only way to know if a garment is truly organic is to check for the GOTS certification. It guarantees that no pesticides, herbicides, or other chemicals were used and that they follow strict rules such as water preservation, only organic dyes, and respect for the environment.

 

This material is soft and insulating, keeping you warm and comfortable in the winter. If properly preserved, cashmere will become even softer over time, making it the perfect winter companion.

🌎 To help prevent environmental impacts from clothing, the best thing to do is to recycle ♻️ sell or donate your used garments so that they do not end up in landfills.

Recommended brands

✅ Here are my recommended sustainable cashmere brands: they use 100% Organic Yarn,  some are powered entirely by renewable energy, and some are 100% traceable to their source. They are super gentle with the animals, and some of them carry even the most respected and official organic certification in a fabric

 

My number one recommendations are:

  • 🌿 REPEAT Cashmere: GOTS Certified Organic Cashmere  15% off code: PRETTYORGANICGIRL

  • 🌿 Gocashmere: GOTS Certified Organic Cashmere 15% off code: PRETTYORGANICGIRL

Both REPEATCashmere and Gocashmere are part of the same company: REPEAT GROUP. One of Europe’s leading brands for luxury knitwear, all their companies and manufacturing partners are GOTS and OCS certified and annually audited by the Control Union and Ecocert.

All their cashmere and cashmere blended products are Organic and officially certified.

GOTS: (Global Organic Textile Standard) certification guarantees that raw materials are organically sourced through ecological and sustainable production processes

Their products are definitely made with the best material on the market!