7. Cashmere Industry: Value Chains and Sustainability

As one of the luxurious fibres, cashmere is a fine natural fibre extracted from the underbelly of a unique goat primarily found in Asia. Cashmere fibre is used to make a variety of fashion and luxury woollen products such as scarves, shawls, pullovers and cardigans. Similar to fine wine or cheeses, it can be argued that the inherent value of cashmere to the consumer relates to both the properties of the product itself (softness, fineness), and the traditions and practices associated with its production. India is the traditional hub of cashmere products for centuries, and the handmade Indian cashmere products are unmatched in artisan expertise, range, design, appearance and quality. In the last few decades, due to technological advancements in manufacturing practices, the automation of cashmere manufacturing is fast replacing the centuries-old traditional practices. As a result of these changes, the industry in India is currently facing sustainability issues. This research aims to determine how, and to what extent, automation is impacting traditional cashmere manufacturing processes and how these practices can be integrated for sustainability. To achieve this, we intend to explore cashmere luxury value chains and study the impact of automation on the value generation stages of these chains. This study will be carried out in the context of traditional craft industry making transition to the global, consumer age. Finally, based on the research aim, propositions are presented to address and integrate these aspects for future research. Through this work, a contribution to the body of knowledge surrounding cashmere industry is expected.