Mongolian Cashmere
Truly Mongolian.
Where our cashmere begins
Born from Mongolia's extreme climate, Mongolian cashmere is prized for a rare balance of softness, warmth, lightness and natural character. For GOBI it begins at home — in the country, the culture and the source we know best.
Climate
A Country of Extremes
Mongolian cashmere is shaped by a country of extremes.
Across open pastureland, goats live through long cold winters, dry air, short warm summers and sharp seasonal change — one of the most demanding natural environments in the world for a cashmere goat.
To survive the cold, each goat grows a fine undercoat beneath its outer hair. That undercoat is cashmere: naturally warm, light and soft long before any production begins.
Which is why Mongolian cashmere does not start as a trend. It starts as protection against the climate.
−30°C in WINTER to +30°C in SUMMER
Mongolia's extreme climate is nature's ultimate test, conditioning the toughest goats to produce cashmere valued for its exceptional quality.
Scale
More Goats Than People
In Mongolia, cashmere goats are not a small part of the landscape. They outnumber people many times over.
GOBI's cashmere colour distribution map covers the country's grazing land and records the national herd at a scale very few places can match.
That scale changes what Mongolian cashmere means. It is not only a luxury material — it is part of the country's land, economy, herding rhythm and national identity.
GOBI cashmere colour distribution map
- km² of land mapped
- 1.56m
- Cashmere goats recorded
- 29m+
- Goats per km², on average
- 18.7
16.3 microns, before spinning.
Fibre fineness measured on raw GOBI cashmere — before it is ever spun or knitted.
Raw material
Finer Cashmere Begins Before the Factory
Through the Sustainable Cashmere Trilateral Project, GOBI works with herder households, selected breeding bucks and professional raw-material testing to improve cashmere quality at the source — better herd quality, clearer livestock genealogy and cleaner raw fibre before production begins.
Project analysis recorded an average fibre fineness of 16.3 microns, with cashmere becoming 3.4% finer, alongside reductions in dandruff, impurities and coarse guard hair.
For the person wearing it, this means the softness of a GOBI piece starts earlier than spinning or knitting. It starts with better raw cashmere.
Harvest
The Spring Comb
Cashmere follows the animal's own rhythm.
In spring, as Mongolia's cold season passes, goats begin to shed the fine undercoat that carried them through winter. This is when cashmere is collected — by hand combing, a long-standing Mongolian practice that gently lifts the loosened undercoat as it is ready to release.
Unlike shearing, which cuts the fibre from the body, hand combing works with the natural shedding cycle. It separates the soft undercoat from the coarser outer hair more carefully, and leaves the animal more of its own protection.
The journey of a GOBI piece begins here: not with a sketch, but with the season, the herder's hand and the quiet rhythm of Mongolian pastoral life.
Partnership
From Herders to Better Fibre
GOBI's cashmere story is built with herders.
Through the Sustainable Cashmere Trilateral Project we work alongside herder households and selected breeding bucks to support raw-material quality, livestock genealogy and long-term value for herding communities.
Scale matters here, because it is what connects a quality improvement to real sourcing volume — from the pasture to the finished collection.
Sustainable Cashmere Trilateral Project
- Herder households
- 106
- Selected breeding bucks
- 200
- Responsible raw cashmere, 2025
- 19.2t
Premium Cashmere, Ethically and Sustainably Made
At GOBI Cashmere, we proudly adhere to the highest sustainability and quality standards in textile production. Our 100% cruelty-free cashmere is ethically sourced through hand combing, ensuring animal welfare, fibre quality, and full traceability.
We are globally certified with:
- ISO 9001 for quality management
- ISO 14001 for environmental management
- ISO 45001 for occupational health and safety
- OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 — free from harmful substances, ensuring both human health and environmental responsibility
From herder partnerships to responsible manufacturing, we've built a vertically integrated supply chain that ensures transparency and minimises environmental impact. Each fibre is carefully crafted by skilled artisans, with no middlemen involved — ensuring that every step, from pasture to product, is managed, owned, and made right here in Mongolia.
From fibre to piece
The Source Becomes the Signature
Once collected, Mongolian cashmere is sorted by natural colour, quality and condition before it enters GOBI's production system.
The softness felt in a finished piece begins much earlier: in the climate, the undercoat, the spring comb, the herder's work and the careful selection of raw fibre.
That is the difference of Mongolian cashmere. It carries a place, a season and a standard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Mongolian cashmere considered one of the finest?
Mongolian cashmere comes from the fine undercoat of goats raised in Mongolia's extreme climate. That environment produces a fibre valued for its softness, warmth and lightness.
What does "micron" mean in cashmere?
Micron measures fibre fineness. A lower micron generally means a finer fibre, which contributes to a softer feel.
Why does Mongolia's climate matter for cashmere?
Cold winters, dry air and sharp seasonal change help Mongolian goats grow a fine protective undercoat. That undercoat becomes cashmere.
Is GOBI cashmere combed or sheared?
Cashmere is collected by hand combing in spring, working with the goat's natural shedding cycle rather than cutting the fibre from the body.
How is GOBI connected to Mongolian herders?
GOBI works with herder households through the Sustainable Cashmere Trilateral Project, focused on raw-material quality, herd improvement, livestock genealogy and long-term cashmere value.
What makes GOBI's Mongolian cashmere story different?
GOBI works at the source, combining Mongolian origin, herder partnerships, raw-material testing and full production knowledge from fibre to finished piece.
Timeless Design & Lasting Quality
Crafted from the finest cashmere, we combine tradition with cutting-edge technology, utilising top-tier machines like Shima Seiki, Bigagli and Stoll to achieve extraordinary quality.
Caring for Cashmere
Hand-combed fibre asks for gentle handling. How to wash, dry and store your GOBI pieces so they last.
