Global Dominance:
Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is the world's epicenter for high-quality cashmere, producing approximately 60-70% of China's total output and an estimated 40% of the world's raw cashmere fiber. China itself accounts for roughly 70% of global production.
A Traditional Way of Life:
The region is home to over 2.5 million herders and their families, many of whom are ethnic Mongols. They often practice traditional, seasonal grazing, moving their herds across vast pastures to ensure sustainable land management and animal health. This ancient pastoral lifestyle is deeply intertwined with the cashmere harvest.
Why the Fiber is Superior:
The key to its quality is the environment. Inner Mongolia has a harsh, continental climate with extreme temperature swings, from -30°C (-22°F) in winter to +30°C (86°F) in summer. To survive, the local breed of cashmere goats (Capra hircus) develop an incredibly soft, fine, and dense undercoat. This undercoat, combed out during the spring molting season, is what becomes luxury cashmere.
Economic Impact:
The cashmere industry is a critical pillar of the local economy, supporting the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of rural herding families and employing many more in processing and manufacturing within the region.
A Delicate Ecosystem:
The cashmere industry is deeply linked to the health of the grassland ecosystem, which spans over 88 million hectares in Inner Mongolia. Responsible producers work with herding communities to manage flock sizes and grazing rotations, ensuring the land thrives for future generations.
The Ideal Goat Breed:
The predominant breed in Inner Mongolia is the Liaoning Cashmere Goat, selectively bred over decades for both the quantity and exceptional fineness of their undercoat. These goats are remarkably hardy, adapted to forage on the natural shrubs and grasses of the steppe, which contributes to the unique character of their fiber.
A Nomadic Tradition:
Many herders still maintain a semi-nomadic or transhumant lifestyle, moving their flocks between seasonal pastures. This practice, honed over millennia, prevents overgrazing, allows the land to recover, and ensures the goats have access to the most nutritious vegetation throughout the year, directly impacting the quality of the cashmere they produce.
Sparse Population, Vast Landscapes:
The pastoral regions of Inner Mongolia have an extremely low population density, often with fewer than 2 people per square kilometer. This vastness ensures the goats roam over immense, pristine pastures with minimal industrial pollution or disruption, resulting in a pure, high-quality fiber.
