Artwell, Haelixa collaborate to ensure transparency in cashmere production

Artwell, a well-known company for its high-quality cashmere sourced from Inner Mongolia, has teamed up with Haelixa, a leading solution for physical traceability, to verify the authenticity of its cashmere. This partnership offers complete transparency, allowing customers to trace the journey from raw fiber to the finished garment.

This collaboration underscores Artwell’s commitment to animal welfare and improving the economic and social conditions of farmers. Artwell is an early adopter of the Good Cashmere Standard, which emphasizes ethical practices.

During a visit to Inner Mongolia last spring, Gediminas Mikutis, the CEO of Haelixa, observed the meticulous care given to every step in the cashmere manufacturing process. Inspired by this commitment to quality, Haelixa decided to contribute to the transparency of cashmere production.

Haelixa’s physical traceability solution assigns specific DNA markers to cashmere fibers, unique to each farm selected by Artwell. These DNA markers are added before the dehairing process. The cashmere batches are tested during processing to confirm the presence of the marked fibers. By the end, the finished garment can be traced back to specific farm sets, with reports generated from these tests.

Artwell operates an efficient and transparent factory dedicated to producing high-quality cashmere garments while minimizing waste and contamination. They employ a QR-code-based lot management system, supported by Haelixa, to track each batch throughout the production process. This combination of digital and physical traceability ensures the integrity of the fibers and offers insights into the product’s origins.

Moreover, traceability addresses the issue of fraudulent or fake cashmere flooding the market. Some suppliers mix cashmere with lower-quality fibers, deceiving consumers and tarnishing the reputation of genuine cashmere. By establishing a transparent supply chain, brands can confirm the authenticity and ethical sourcing of their cashmere products.