Sustainability at Kanchan Cashmere
A practical, long-term approach to responsible cashmere production — focused on materials, people, and disciplined manufacturing in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Responsibility as Disciplined, Long-Term Manufacturing
Each cashmere piece carries weight: fibre, labour, energy and transport. Our responsibility is to respect that weight by planning carefully, knitting only what is needed, and building programs that can be sustained over multiple seasons rather than treated as one-off experiments.
In practice, this means clear calendars, realistic MOQs and manufacturing decisions that protect both the garment and the relationship. We prefer fewer, better programs with depth over a long list of reactive, short-lived orders.
Sustainability for us is the work we do every day on the factory floor — not a campaign. It sits in how we choose yarns, how we structure production, how we treat our team, and how we avoid shortcuts that damage quality, trust or the value of the garment that reaches your customer.
Working with Focused, Traceable Yarn Stories
Responsible cashmere begins with responsible inputs. We prioritise yarns from established spinners whose fibre selection, dyeing and technical standards are stable and well documented.
Core programs are built on a controlled list of pure cashmere, baby cashmere, recycled cashmere and refined blends. Hand-feel, performance and shade continuity are tested and recorded so that collections remain predictable and repeatable.
Where brands request it, we can explore recycled or certified yarns, subject to spinner availability and realistic volume. Instead of making promises the supply chain cannot support, we stay open about what is truly possible for each brief — technically, commercially and on timing.
A Stable Kathmandu Factory with a Long-Term Team
Our knitters, linkers, washers, finishers and packing teams are central to every garment we send out. Many have been with Kanchan Cashmere for years, refining the quiet skills that define true luxury knitwear.
We maintain structured working hours, clear responsibilities and ongoing training around quality, health and safety. Calm, organised work is better for people — and it produces more consistent garments for your customer.
As we grow, investments go into machines, processes and people at the same time, so the factory can carry both higher expectations and higher volumes without losing its balance.
Planning that Reduces Rework, Waste and Overproduction
We treat disciplined planning as a core sustainability tool. Clear tech packs, defined fit blocks and staged approvals (proto, SMS, TOP) help us avoid unnecessary rework, yarn wastage and last-minute corrections that consume extra fibre and time.
Order volumes are aligned with realistic sell-through rather than inflated safety quantities. By knitting what is needed — with appropriate reserves — we protect resources while still respecting your commercial requirements and delivery windows.
Internally, we monitor rework, wastage and hidden losses so that quality discipline and financial discipline move together, not in conflict.
Documentation That Supports Your Standards
Many of our partners operate within defined environmental and social frameworks. We maintain yarn- and factory-level documentation to support brand questionnaires, audits and on-site visits.
Through the supply chain we work with spinners and partners who support schemes such as SFA, GRS, OEKO-TEX®, GOTS, RWS and related programmes, depending on yarn and project. Instead of chasing labels for marketing value alone, we focus on evidence: technical data from spinners, process controls in washing and finishing, and clear records of how each program is planned and produced.
With long-term buyers, we are open to structured improvement plans, where expectations, timelines and responsibilities are defined from both sides so progress is real and measurable.
Designing for Years of Wear, Not One Season
The most responsible cashmere is the piece that stays in a wardrobe for years. We design and knit with longevity in mind: balanced gauges, considered fits, seams that hold and finishing that protects the natural hand of the fibre.
We can support brands with clear care guidance — from washing and drying to storage and pilling management — so customers understand how to look after their knitwear and extend its life in real use.
When fit, fabric and care all align, the result is knitwear that feels modern on day one and still relevant in the seasons that follow.
Building Responsible Cashmere Programs with Your Team
Every brand arrives with a different sustainability roadmap. Some bring detailed checklists, others bring clear values but less technical language. Our role is to translate those expectations into a workable, honest production plan in Nepal.
From first brief, we stay transparent about trade-offs between yarn choice, timelines, MOQs, price and certification. Together we design programs that are commercially sound, technically robust and aligned with the level of responsibility your brand promises to its customers.
“When materials, people and planning are respected, responsible cashmere becomes the natural result of good manufacturing.”
For Boutique & Luxury Brands
Start Your Cashmere Program with Kanchan
Share your vision, yarn preferences and timelines. We will help you structure development, sampling and production with clear steps and realistic delivery dates.