Cashmere is prized for its softness, but the goats that produce it often face significant welfare challenges in the high-altitude grazing systems of Central Asia where most cashmere originates.
Cashmere goats inhabit some of the world's harshest environments, and their welfare is shaped by the interaction between their physical needs, the economic pressures on herding communities, and the appetite of global fashion for cheap luxury fibre. As cashmere prices have fallen due to oversupply, herders have responded by increasing herd sizes — leading to overgrazing that depletes the pasture goats depend on. Malnourished goats on degraded land produce lower-quality fibre and suffer more in extreme winters, creating a feedback loop of welfare decline. Welfare certification schemes require minimum standards for shelter, health monitoring, and handling, but certification coverage remains a small fraction of global cashmere production. Consumer willingness to pay more for certified product is the key driver for systemic improvement.