Magazine

Cervo, Sustainability

FTC® - MORE THAN CASHMERE

12.01.2023

The collaboration CERVO x FTC® was initiated in 2021 through the common ground of shared values that bond and inspire. We share the love for details and the demand for highest quality and comfort as well as our sustainability efforts. Together we want to offer you unforgettable moments and now you can purchase the cozy cashmere accessories by FTC® in the CERVO shop. The knits are climate-neutral and labelled with OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN  

  

FEELING THE SENSE WITH FAIR TRADE CASHMERE  

FTC® stands for Fair Trade Cashmere and behind it is a two-generation family business, founded in 2003. The special thing about FTC® is that the entire value chain of the fashion brand (from the company’s own cashmere goat farm to the manufacturing and the distribution warehouse) is in the hands of the company. FTC® sees this internal transparency and understanding of its own value chain as an indispensable basis for combining sustainability with fashion and setting new standards. FTC® achieved the OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN Label, where every style can be scanned via QR code, to see the production chain.  

FROM THE CASHMERE GOAT TO THE FAVORITE SWEATER 

In the loess plateau in the north of China lies the „New Shaanxi Goat Farm“ of FTC®, which today has over 16’000 cashmere goats. FTC® operates and manages the farm – from the cultivation of fodder (corn and alfalfa) to the treatment and extraction of the finest cashmere. The cashmere fibers are extracted annually, during the transitional period from winter to summer. Cashmere (also called „white gold“) is considered one of the most exclusive natural fibers due to its limited availability and unique fineness. 

In the Chinese province of Hebei, all further process steps up to the final product, take place in FTC®’s own manufactory: Washing, sorting, carding, tuft dyeing, knitting (fully-fashioned), warping, preparation testing and final picking. FTC® is a knitting specialist – the product management/design team in Switzerland works closely with the production team in China to realize the detailed styles and colorful collections. 

FTC® always strives for optimizing their value chain in a sustainable way. Since 2020, FTC® cooperates with Haelixa – a Swiss innovation company that creates full traceability in the supply chain. For that FTC® takes a pioneering role in cashmere fashion. 

MORE THAN CASHMERE 

By questioning and analyzing its own value chain „UpKnit – Upcycling for Uniqueness“ was created – a product line in which „scrap yarns“ left over from the knitting process are recycled by joining them together. Since the colors and lengths of the scrap yarns vary greatly, the result is a colorful, unique hand-knit look design. FTC® has thus achieved zero-waste production. 

While always striving for the highest quality standards FTC® launched the innovative blend SEACELL Cashmere. SEACELL is a sustainable cellulose fiber embedded with algae from the sea. The FTC® styles in this material composition offer a special comfort for people with sensitive skin.  

In summer FTC® also has styles in organic cotton cashmere in its assortment which offers a variety in lighter styles for warmer days.

To explore the world of FTC® and dive deeper into their unique story visit www.shop.ftc-cashmere.com.

Photos:  FTC®

www.cervo.swiss
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