Programme
Pure-Comb™
Combed, not sheared. The raw-material commitment behind longer staple and better yarn.
The difference between combed and sheared cashmere isn’t philosophical — it’s structural. Combed fibre retains its natural length (38–42mm for our grades). Sheared fibre is cut short, damaging staple length and the animal’s coat. Pure-Comb is our commitment to 100% combed raw material.
What it is
A raw-material standard, not a marketing claim
Most large-volume cashmere is now mechanically sheared — faster for the herder, cheaper for the buyer, worse for everyone downstream. Shearing cuts fibre short (28–34mm typical), damages the goat’s coat, and produces yarn that pills and loses loft faster.
Pure-Comb is a programme-level commitment to sourcing only combed fibre. Every herder cooperative we buy from practices traditional hand-combing during the spring moult. We verify, we document, and we refuse fibre that doesn’t meet the standard. It costs more per kilogram. It makes better yarn.
How it works
The process, from moult to mill
01
Spring combing window
Cashmere goats grow their soft undercoat through winter and naturally shed it in spring. Herders comb their animals by hand during this window — several weeks, once per year, with no damage to the coat.
02
Hand-selection at source
Combed fibre is sorted by hand at the cooperative before sale. Coarse guard hair is pulled, colour is grouped, and weight is graded. The finest down fibre is set aside for luxury-grade programmes.
03
Staple length preserved
Combing retains 38–42mm average staple length. Sheared fibre is typically 28–34mm — shorter, weaker, more prone to pilling. Longer staple spins stronger yarn that performs better over the life of the garment.
04
Animal welfare guaranteed
No cutting, no stress, no damage to the goat’s coat. Combing extends the animal’s productive life and supports the herder communities who practice this traditional method.
What you get
Why combed matters in the finished product
Longer staple
Stronger yarn with significantly less pilling over the life of the garment.
Higher luxury grade
Combed fibre commands premium grading — the difference shows in hand and drape.
Animal welfare
Verifiable non-shearing practice for brands with welfare claims.
Documented provenance
Cooperative certification available per lot, tied to Herd-to-Cone™ documentation.
Verified raw material
Source from combed fibre only
Every yarn, fabric, and garment we produce uses Pure-Comb raw material by default. For brands that want this claim verified in writing, we provide combing-method certification at the lot level.