Cashmere Is Cruel – Here Are 5 Reasons Never to Buy It
Cashmere is made from hair that has been violently ripped out of a goat’s soft undercoat. Once the goats are no longer deemed profitable, they’re killed.
Combined, China and Mongolia produce 90% of all cashmere, and the rest comes from several other countries, including India and Iran. A goat produces only 250 grams of hair annually, which means the hair of six goats is used for a single jacket. In other words, a couple of cashmere items in your wardrobe represents the suffering of a dozen gentle animals.
No matter where cashmere comes from or what disingenuous label companies attach to it, all cashmere is the product of extreme cruelty and suffering. Read on to discover five reasons why you should never buy or wear cashmere.
1. Some Goats Are Left With Bloody Wounds
Cashmere production couldn’t be further from a mere haircut. A PETA Asia investigation into the cashmere industry in China and Mongolia revealed workers holding goats down, bending their legs into unnatural positions, and using metal combs to tear out their hair. The sharp tools may leave goats with bleeding wounds, and the animals receive no pain relief or veterinary care. No jacket, jumper, scarf – or any item of clothing – is worth this suffering.
In the wake of this investigation, clothing companies claimed that they would support and follow certain animal welfare “standards”, and many signed on to the Sustainable Fibre Alliance. Two of the cashmere suppliers implicated in PETA Asia’s second investigation were certified by this organisation. Watch the footage to understand that such schemes are meaningless for animals exploited by the fashion industry:
2. Cashmere Goats Are Robbed of Natural Insulation
As well as being extremely painful and causing open, bloody wounds, combing deprives goats of their natural insulation. This leaves them especially vulnerable to cold temperatures and illnesses. A PETA exposé of Mongolia’s cashmere industry revealed multiple dead animals, who likely died from exposure to extreme cold, at cashmere operations.
3. Goats Endure an Agonising Death for Cashmere
When cashmere goats are no longer considered profitable, they may be sent to an abattoir, where they’re subjected to a slow, agonising death. Eyewitnesses at an abattoir in China saw workers hit animals on the head with a hammer in an attempt to stun them. In Mongolia, workers were seen dragging goats by the leg onto the kill floor before slitting their throats in full view of their herdmates. When someone buys a cashmere jumper, it’s likely that the goat it came from will already be dead.
4. Cashmere Production Devastates the Environment
Considered to be the most environmentally destructive of all animal-derived fibres, cashmere production has a far-reaching and devastating impact. Mongolia is home to 27 million cashmere goats, and a vast quantity of grass is required to feed these herds. Mongolia’s landscape is rapidly deteriorating as grasslands – a shocking 70% of which are already degraded – are stripped bare and the soil loses its vitality. An alarming 90% of the country’s land is at risk of desertification. If you want to make a real difference for animals and the planet, never buy or wear items made from cashmere.
5. Magnificent Vegan Fabrics Are Available
With such wonderful vegan fashion hitting the shelves, there’s no excuse for supporting this cruel industry. There has been a surge in the availability of vegan fabrics that are the ideal combination of soft, sustainable, and stylish. From organic cotton and linen to fabrics made from seaweed, wood pulp, or hemp, eco-friendly vegan fabrics are the future of fashion.
By avoiding cashmere and embracing sustainable vegan fashion, we are rejecting the catastrophic environmental impact of the cashmere industry and its exploitation of and cruelty to goats.
What YOU Can Do to Help Goats
The best thing you can do to help goats is to never buy or wear cashmere. Always check the label and opt for vegan fabric instead. Looking for inspiration? Check out PETA’s guide to vegan fashion for tips on building an animal-free wardrobe:
Looking for cosy cardigans and stylish jumpers that deliver maximum comfort with none of the cruelty? Here’s our guide to vegan knits:
While some brands have already made the compassionate choice of dropping cashmere from their collections, others are still profiting from animal suffering in the name of “fashion”.
Please urge brands like Louis Vuitton, Dior, Prada and Burberry to drop cashmere immediately:
