Think again before buying that gorgeous cashmere sweater this winter
Greetings, friends!
I write from a Southern California mid-autumn heat wave…we are trying to stay cool (no air conditioning in our coastal homes!) and soak up the last of those hot vibes before the cooler weather is here to stay.
So it seems a little ironic that today I’m writing about cashmere – a material traditionally used to make cozy knitwear.
I’ve been reflecting on my own sustainable style journey over the last year as it relates to the quality of the garments I purchase. Last winter, I decided not to buy any new sweaters, as my still-mostly-home-and-kid-based lifestyle seemed at odds with [often delicate] knitwear. This season, however, I have a couple of winter garments on my shopping list.
Cashmere seemed like the perfect starting point – it is a biodegradable material and a renewable resource – how wonderful! With the abundant green-wishing (and green-washing), even by “sustainable” brands, I was under the impression that cashmere was a more sustainable material choice. Boy was I wrong.
After a deep dive into the sustainability of cashmere, I’m sharing my key takeaways below (deep dive here).
Cashmere production is harmful to animals. The practice of combing goats (this is the method of extracting their hair to make clothing) is painful and stressful to the animals (and to the people doing the combing).
Goat herders, who raise nomadic goats that are used for their hair to produce cashmere, are experiencing poorer socio-economic outcomes due to the increased demand for cashmere in the West.
The native grasslands where cashmere goats feed are being destroyed. The demand for cashmere is outstripping the natural resources available to feed the goats and the once biodiverse grasslands are adding to the climate crisis.
I’m feeling a bit down after all that, how about you? What are we to do?
The answer, once again, lies in using what we already have before demanding new. Shop for cashmere second-hand or consider other plant-based alternatives like organic cotton, hemp, or linen for your winter wardrobe needs. The recycled cashmere products still often use some new cashmere, so keep that in mind.
If you already have cashmere in your closet, care for it. Keep it, wear it, and be grateful for the work that went into making it to keep you warm.
Until next week…in organic, GOTS-certified cotton clothes,
Kevin xo