We are thrilled to present Cashmere People Yarns: ethically sourced, environmentally conscious cashgora yarns that are handspun and hand-dyed by a women's cooperative in Tajikistan & Afghanistan.
These particular cashgora goats are raised by farmers in the Pamir mountains in the southern part of the country. The goats are combed and the fiber is sent to be washed and de-haired in Afghanistan. The fiber is then distributed to spinners in seven different villages in Tajikistan: three in the north and four in the south.
Cashgora goats came from crossbreeding angora (mohair) and cashmere-producing goats. The resulting fiber produces a yarn with the best qualities of each goat breed: strength and shine from angora with the softness of cashmere. Cashgora ranges between 18 and 23 microns, similar to the softness of merino wool. This yarn is durable, less prone to pilling than cashmere, and drapes beautifully in your finished product.
Each 2-ply skein weighs 100 grams. Yardages will be within the following ranges:
- Fingering: 360-469 yds
- Sport: 260-359 yds
To view bios of individual spinners, please visit
www.cashmerepeopleyarns.com
We believe that a strong, personal link between fiber producers, spinners, and buyers makes a better product and promotes a more conscious, not-just-for-profit business. We also believe in strengthening women's rights by providing them with earning opportunities and developing connections across cultures.
These spinners live in some of the most isolated, traditional communities in the world. Chances are, the woman who spun & dyed your yarn had to confront poverty as well as the constraints of traditional, patriarchal culture. Your purchase will make her life a little easier and having her own money will give her a little more power. Her yarn will allow you to knit a unique, luxurious product. Thank you for making this happen.
~Cashmere People Yarns