Annotations - chenj

The source of the problem points to the high markups in the supply chain, which “kept herders at a disadvantage financially while allowing middlemen to benefit,” Scanlan found. If the herders sell cashmere at $20 a kilogram, the traders and brokers can make $50 through reselling to the manufacturers.

[the SCP] also encourages herders to negotiate prices directly with clothing manufacturers, potentially cutting out the Chinese middlemen who control the cashmere market.

is it accurate that the middlemen are Chinese? What of the incentives to sell to local processors, such as Gobi LLC?

The company selected cashmere herders for its pilot, as herders face income instability and are oftenindebted to intermediaries for cash advances. There is also a lack of agreement on sustainability and chain of custody processes, and grazing lands are threatening the viability of the industry.

This passage links three articles; see "relation" fields in the item metadata. #volatile-prices #chenj (asia.nikkei.com) #traceability (the "lack of agreement", Financial Times "Living from Loan to Loan" -- though this is a weak citation) #overgrazing #threatened-cashmere-industry (sciencemag.org)

Naadam, a direct-to consumer cashmere brand that’s making luxe knitwear more sustainable, more accessible, and more affordable for everyone. By purchasing directly from nomadic Mongolian herders, Naadam is able to reduce their carbon footprint, offer livestock insurance, and create special non-profit opportunities for all the herders they work with. The result of purchasing directly from the source? An incredibly so

These descriptors are essentially stated rather than argued. #direct-to-consumer-marketing #luxury #affordable-cashmere ("accessible" and "affordable" as distinct here?) #chenj (cutting out middlemen to achieve all sorts of things!) #carbon-footprint (reduction) #livestock-insurance #collective-action (as "non-profit opportunities")

Herder cooperatives can work together to access high-quality billies that can be shared amongst herding families, and they should seek out traders and processors that are willing to pay a premium price for high-quality fibre.

Herders face income instability and uncertainty and are often indebted to intermediaries for cash advances

Herders face income instability and uncertainty and are often indebted to intermediaries for cash advances

Convergence's interpretations of the problem.