The Culture of Cashmere

Weather is destiny—this adage rings particularly true when you are traversing the steppes and deserts of Mongolia. These vast landscapes look primordial, but their captivating beauty belies a harsh climate. Temperatures can soar beyond 40°C in the summer, and plunge to -50°C during long, hard winters. Rainfall tends to be modest and snowfall is light, except when there is a dzud—the local term for an intense, devastating blizzard.

Mongolia’s centuries-old nomadic culture was shaped by these conditions. The lack of rain wasn’t conducive to farming. Instead, herders live in tune with nature, letting their animals graze in the cooler highlands during summer, then moving to low-lying areas in winter. This seasonal migration gives pastures time to regenerate, which is particularly important for those who own goats, voracious eaters who tend to pull grass up by the roots as they graze.

Having evolved to survive Mongolia’s extreme climate, the local capra hircus is exceedingly resilient. This goat species not only has a coarse outer fleece that shields them from the sun and rain, but also an exceptionally soft undercoat that insulates them against bitter cold. We know this fine fleece by another name—cashmere.

“These are amazing creatures