CLAIM: fact

low productivity The efficiency of resource conversion in cashmere production is extremely low. It takes six goats to produce a cashmere sweater, meaning that mass production can never be sustainable.

carbon neutral Cashmere goats are carbon-neutral.

misleading marketing Cashmere is labelled as being from Mongolia, or as being sustainably produced, but consumer expectations may not align with reality.

indigenous breeds Sustainable production requires indigenous (non-improved) livestock breeds.

rangeland quality High-quality rangeland will produce higher-quality cashmere. The inverse formulation of #rangeland-degradation and #overgrazing.

natural fibre Cashmere is a natural fibre. See also #organic-fibre.

scarcity Cashmere is a 'scarce' product insofar as very small amounts of wool can be obtained from each goat, and the production process is labour-intensive. The message associated with this frame is often that 'it takes four goats to produce a single cashmere sweater'.

human health Some textiles impose negative impacts on human health, specifically among producers. For non-cashmere textiles, this can involve exposure to chemical pollutants due to production (e.g., fertilizer for cotton). There may be toxicity concerns related to the textile itself, particularly after disposal.

carbon footprint Goats have a carbon footprint that may mitigate positive ecological attributes of natural fibre production.

animal cruelty Combing of cashmere goats is a cruel practice that causes unnecessary harm to animals. This claim may be associated with the understanding that goats are handled roughly during combing, that they are deprived of wool necessary to keep them warm in a frigid climate, or that they are raised generally under poor conditions.

affect Sustainable consumerism is associated with positive affect.

consumer self awareness Consumers are becoming increasingly self-aware, understanding the global impacts of their choices. As consumer awareness is linked to increased knowledge, this frame may be associated with support for increased research and awareness-raising campaigns (targeting consumers). It may also be associated with demands placed on producers and designers.

pastoralism livestock wellbeing Mobile pastoralism is good for livestock because herds are free-roaming and able to graze independently. Humane production.

organic fibres Organic fibres are preferable to synthetic fibres as they are biodegradeable and come from renewable resources.

durability Sustainable textiles are durable; they do not lose their shape, wear thin, or lose warmth as they age.

pure cashmere Pure cashmere is of higher quality than mixed fibres. There are also associations of quality (purity as being unadulterated, safe), and purely natural.

indigenous sustainability Indigenous people have lived sustainably from time immemorial. They can be treated as an inspiration for mindfulness.

grasslands decline history Narratives about how grass was formerly lush and abundant.

pressure for quality Herders are pressured to produce higher-quality cashmere, even though expectations may be unrealistic. Herders are expected to take responsibility for factors over which they have little control, with inadequate structural interventions.

goats reproduction Goats take over herds, crowding out other livestock.

waste The production of many textiles involves wasteful use of water or energy. The textiles themselves may be wasteful if they are non-durable and non-biodegradeable. The textiles industry is one of the most wasteful on Earth.

rangeland degradation A specific form of #ecological-degradation. May or may not be directly attributed to cashmere production and #overgrazing.

global concern Ecological and human sustainability conditions are interconnected globally due to the transnational nature of global commodity chains. Impacts of individual producers' or consumers' actions may not be visible locally, as they may be concentrated in distant locations. See #dust-storms.

co-evolution Goats and humans have co-evolved in the steppes of Inner Asia. Goats rely on combing each Spring in order to be relieved of excess wool. This is related to the argument that goats herded by humans have co-evolved with grassland vegetation species (#pastoralism-biodiversity). Also encompassed in this frame is the concept of Inner Asian grasslands as a niche ecosystem, and as a necessary determinant for quality cashmere.