CASHMERE

Over-grazing and global warming pose a threat to the land on which Mongolian Cashmere goats graze. Our work with the Sustainable Fibre Alliance (SFA) helps protect grasslands through support and training for herders that is mindful of their culture and their traditional herding methods.

The well-being of the animals from which we source our fine fibres is incredibly important to us. We now only buy the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) certified wool, and we are working towards all our Cashmere fibre coming from SFA certified sources by 2024.

The Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals project (ZDHC) was founded in 2011 in response to the Greenpeace DeTox campaign. It aims to eliminate the use of priority hazardous chemicals in the global textile, leather and footwear value chain. None of the chemicals on the ZDHC restricted list are used in our supply chain and we are gentle with our fibres to avoid excessive bleaching or dyeing.

We are the largest textile manufacturer to register with the Living Wage Foundation, paying a wage higher than the standard UK minimum wage across all our operations. We continually focus on effective recruitment and training and provide a safe and inclusive working environment for all our employees.

We are working on our pathway to carbon neutrality, reducing our gas consumption and only using electricity from renewable sources in our Scottish mills. We make ethical choices when buying new equipment and minimize the movement of our products where possible.

Scotland's abundant supply of soft water is hugely beneficial to our processes - it is often credited with achieving our cashmere fibres' cloud-like softness. We are fortunate that our mills are located in areas of low water stress by global standards.

We work with natural biodegradable fibres and continually look at ways to reduce the volume of plastics used in our manufacturing processes. Paper and cardboard used at our sites are Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified.

The reduction of manufacturing waste and the regeneration of resources is inherent to our business. We find valuable alternative uses for our manufacturing waste wherever possible.

Our high-quality natural fibres are inherently long-lasting, and our fine craftsmanship helps keep our products functional as well as beautiful for as long as possible. We offer a repair service for our knitted Cashmere products to extend their lifespan.