Sustainable cashmere: what does it mean?

Durable and cashmere are two words you don’t often come across in combination.
Yet they play a crucial role at Backbone. Why? Because despite the global awareness of waste and unfair labor, we are still bombarded to death with countless fast fashion chains and multiple new must-havecollections every season.

Fortunately, anno 2021, there is an increasing focus on making the fashion industry more sustainable. Buying investment piecesthat you can wear year-round and that don’t go out of style is a step in the right eco direction. A way to take control and do your part for a better world. And cashmere is eminently a very beautiful sustainable product.

4 reasons why cashmere is a sustainable product:

1. Cashmere suits every outfit and occasion.
   Cashmere is a very supple falling material and comes in a variety of shades and patterns.

2. Cashmere is gentle on your skin
Whereas various types of wool cause itching, this is not true of cashmere. When you wear cashmere, you are guaranteed 100% itch-free comfort. Even on bare skin.

3. Cashmere suits every season.
Since cashmere is insulating, it is therefore pleasantly warm in winter and wonderfully airy in summer. A perfect accessory for any season.

4. Easy to take care of
Once you know the tricks, it’s pretty easy to keep your cashmere scarf looking like new for years.

You notice: a BACKBONE cashmere scarf is a lasting investment. You are buying one for life!

Discover the BACKBONE cashmere scarves here

Producing cashmere sustainably

The sustainable production of cashmere is currently under development. Cashmere goats live in semi-arid climates. Something we in the Netherlands and Belgium can only dream of. Mimicking their natural habitat here is theoretically possible but would be absolutely unsustainable because of the high energy consumption this would mean.

Most of all the world’s cashmere comes from the Kashmir region of India, Pakistan and China. Today, cashmere goats are also being raised in other countries such as Australia and New Zealand to meet the global demand for this precious product.

Currently, there is no other option but to import cashmere from Asia or Oceania. So it always takes a long way before it arrives in Europe. This also requires a secure way of packing so that the precious material makes it through the trip unscathed. be

Water waste management

To minimize our environmental impact, we choose production facilities/production sites that pay attention to the environment. One of our biggest concerns is how producers handle water and water waste.

Our partners in Asia have a clear water waste management plan. This means, for example, that wastewater from wool dyeing is not simply dumped into a nearby river.

Many small steps add up to one big step

We firmly believe that 100% sustainability is achievable over time. Continuing to improve production processes is a step in the right direction to meet the demand for cashmere in a more sustainable way.

Even though they are often small steps, all together they make for great long-term progress. BACKBONE likes to contribute to this by keeping every choice and decision in the light of sustainability. Even when the products arrive in the Netherlands, sustainability remains our priority. From packaging to shipping!

When you buy a BACKBONE scarf, we package it in a functional box. A real eye-catcher. Where we used to add tissue paper to protect the scarf during shipping, we now choose beautiful dustbags. You can keep using those dustbags. Not only for your scarf but also, for example, if you are going on a trip and want to take a beautiful dress with you.

The mission of BACKBONE

Our mission is to provide you with a durable cashmere scarf that you can easily transform from daily use to an accessory for the weekend or a party. We choose beautifully matching colors and timeless collections.

We deliberately choose not to offer a new collection every season. This way, we also keep your selection stress to a minimum; you never have to buy a particular color or model immediately because otherwise you’ll be out of sync with the latest trend. Our cashmere scarves are and always will be available in different shades. They wait patiently for you to put them in your shopping cart.

You see, BACKBONE doesn’t just stand for slow fashion and a beautiful, quality product made of sustainable cashmere. We are also actively working for a cleaner world!