As soon as the spring arrives the goatherds carefully comb away the precious underhair, gathering the few ounces of fibre that come from each goat. Every trace of cashmere fibre is gathered up then sent on the long journey by yak, horse, raft and sampan until it finally crosses half the world to reach the processing mills in Scotland and Italy.

A cashmere goat produces only very little underhair: 5 to 6 ounces per year. Therefore the production of a classic jumper needs the wool of 4 to 6 goats.