Fabric Innovation | The Art of Luxuriously Soft Cashmere

Since day one, we’ve championed a direct-to-consumer approach which means we can oversee every step in our processes and avoid mark ups, guarantee quality and own accountability.

With each collection we continue to innovate, learn and grow, scrupulously sourcing fabrics and materials and always seeking out suppliers who align with our values and operate in similar structures. With that in mind, we were delighted to discover Artwell - a production house that’s been operating a vertical supply chain since 1986 - and we’re proud to now have them in our family of suppliers.

The production house is involved in three different animal welfare organisations: the ICCAW (International Cooperation Committee of Animal Welfare), SFA (Sustainable Fibre Allowance) and is one of the biggest participants in The Good Cashmere Standard certification program. Working vertically, they source cashmere directly from herders in Inner Mongolia and oversee every aspect of their production process to ensure quality and accountability.

GENERATIONS OF KNOWLEDGE

Artwell has been sourcing cashmere directly from families of herders based in Inner Mongolia for almost 30 years, the area renowned for producing the finest cashmere. Artwell works directly with each family of herders who sustain the land and rear goats following traditional herding techniques that have been passed down through the generations, providing goats with fresh water and food throughout the year, while ensuring each one has roughly 10 acres of land on which to graze.

EVERYTHING UNDER ONE ROOF

Artwell oversees its own de-hairing, carding, spinning, knitting, and linking processes within each of its two factories, where women account for nearly 70% of the workforce. Keeping everything under one solar-panelled roof ensures that each step in the production process of a garment is done in-house and can be overseen and guaranteed. Those solar panels on the roof account for around 25% of their energy, partially powering its knitting machines, and troughs collect rainwater that is recycled and reused.

FULL ACCOUNTABILITY

Because of Artwell’s vertical production process, each bag of de-haired fibre - 300g of which is needed to produce a single jumper - can be traced back to its origins. To ensure the fibre quality, samples are taken for lab tests performed by a 3rd party.

Every inch of yarn goes through a Uster machine, a type of checker, that examines the diameter of the yarn, its strength and quality. The next step is spinning and carding where any treatments used - for example, paraffin wax - are recorded and traceable. Once each piece or element of a jumper is crafted on the solar-powered knitting machines, the final step is linking. Every worker who pieces together a garment has a barcode to log information about the piece they’re making so that each one can be traced back, not only to where the yarn was sourced but to the person who stitched everything together.

YOUR INVESTMENT

In everything from chunky knits to fine, super-soft brushed finishes, our curation of Artwell knits offers a full spectrum of pure cashmere in different guises: relaxed-fit cardigans, high-neck jumpers, and vests in the irresistibly soft fabric. You’ll know when a knit is crafted by Artwell by looking out for a Fabric Innovation point in the Intelligent Design section on each product page.

CARING FOR YOUR CASHMERE

Prolong the life of your cashmere investments by removing any pilling with our Cashmere Comb. Most knitwear can be washed, occasionally a very delicate piece may have to be dry-cleaned.

When in doubt, follow the instructions. Cashmere pieces should be hand washed at no more than 30°C using a non-biological liquid detergent or specialist wool detergent. Wash the garment on its own and do not rub or wring it out. If using a machine hand-wash programme, select a spin at no more than 400rpm and put the garment in a net bag. Do not use fabric conditioner as this can create extra pilling during wear. Before storing for longer periods, ensure the pieces are clean and free from any stains that could attract moths and cause damage over time. When storing, lay flat away from natural light and moisture, preferably in airtight bags.