How to produce Cashmere Fabrics in Nigeria
CASHMERE
Cashmere is a type of wool that is made from the hair of a certain type of goat native to the Gobi Desert and Central Asia. Long considered to be one of the softest and most luxurious types of wool in existence, cashmere is highly prized as a material for sweaters, scarves, and other light cold-weather gear. While cashmere is not as isolative as other types of wool, it is much softer and finer, which makes it possible to weave cashmere into highly dense but thin fabric.
BRIEF HISTORY ABOUT CASHMERE
The breeding of cashmere goats in Mongolia and in the Kashmir region predates recorded history. References to this fabric go back as far as the 3rd century BC, and there’s indication that cashmere wool production goes back much farther than that.
Trading with Turkestan brought cashmere wool into the Middle East, and from there, ancestral trading routes brought this incredibly soft fabric to the courts of Europe and beyond. Cashmere wool became especially popular in France, and merchants braved perilous trading routes to bring this legendary material back to the thriving European market.
These days, cashmere wool is mainly produced in China, but there is still a thriving cottage cashmere economy within the Central Asian nations. Cashmere production continues to increase with world population and the reduction of poverty, and it’s likely that China will remain the main exporter of cashmere for the foreseeable future. While there are many unethical textile manufacturers in China, there are also lots of ethical Chinese cashmere producers.
HOW TO PRODUCE CASHMERE FABRICS
Cashmere fabric production is broken down into several different processes. Commercial cashmere production is very different from traditional, cottage-industry-style production.
1. SHEARING
First, the goats are allowed to grow full coats of hair. The shearing process can be accomplished in a variety of ways, and it’s certainly possible to shear cashmere goats without harming them.
2. CLEANING
Next, the raw wool is picked through, and any dirt or impurities are removed.
3. COMBING
The individual wool fibers are combed into straight lines, and they are carded into light groups of fibers.
4. SPINNING
The carded fibers are fed into a spinning machine, which twists the wool fibers to form yarn. Depending on the textile products being produced, thinner or thicker yarn may be desired.
5. CLEANING, DYEING
The yarn is cleaned again, and if dye is desired, it may be applied at this point. In some cases, manufacturers prefer to garment-dye their cashmere items.
6. WEAVING
The finished cashmere yarn is woven into a textile product. Examples of popular cashmere products include scarves, vests, and sweaters.
7. FINAL TREATMENTS
Before the garments leave the facility, they may be treated with flame-retardants or other final treatments. Keep in mind that wool is naturally flame-resistant.
8. PACKAGING AND FULFILLMENT
The final products are packaged, branded, and made ready for sale.
CASHMERE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
With the growing concern for the environment all over the world, it’s also best to understand the effects of cashmere production. It will not only make you understand better what is cashmere but will also ensure you know whether you’re contributing to animal cruelty and environmental destruction. That said, cashmere production both has negative and positive impacts.
- NEGATIVE
As with any products made from animals, cashmere production comes with lots of controversies, including its environmental effect. The demand for cashmere fabric led to its low price and increased production, so herders had to breed and raise more goats. Thus, the lands where they grow aren’t healthy because of overcrowding. This also leads to ecological imbalance because the green lands will have reduced grasses as the goats feed on them.
Apart from its possible effects on the environment, there are also concerns about animal cruelty because the coats are the goats’ protection from the cold. With the high demand, some producers remove the coats earlier than usual or mid-winter. As such, you must ensure you purchase cashmere from manufacturers that have strict protocols.
- POSITIVE
The world’s reliability on natural fibers has a positive impact on the environment since they’re biodegradable, unlike synthetic ones. As such, they don’t produce waste that will remain in the ecosystem for several years. In terms of what is cashmere, it is also a fabric free from fertilizers, pesticides, and more, so they’re non-toxic and their production is eco-friendly.
CONCLUSION
Quality cashmere is long-lasting, elastic, and long-lasting, so make sure you carefully evaluate what you’re purchasing. Additionally, cashmere production comes with issues but multiple certifying bodies will help you identify which brand to wear. Look for one or more of those logos or stickers now you know what cashmere is.
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