Artwell, a company known for its high-quality cashmere sourced from Inner Mongolia, has partnered with Haelixa, a leading physical traceability solution, to authenticate its cashmere which includes full transparency into the journey from fibre to finished garment.
The collaboration boosts Artwell’s prioritisation of animal welfare and farmers’ economic and social conditions as a Good Cashmere Standard early adopter.
While visiting Inner Mongolia last spring to see the cashmere farms first-hand, Gediminas Mikutis, CEO of Haelixa, noted, “After witnessing the care and consideration given to each step in the manufacturing process of cashmere, we were inspired to contribute to transparency along the journey of this exceptional fibre.”
Haelixa’s physical traceability solution marks the cashmere fibres with a specific DNA per farm set selected by Artwell. The DNA markers are added before dehairing. The lots are tested through cashmere processing to validate whether the marked fibres are present. The finished garment can be traced to specific farm sets with the reports created from these tests.
According to Artwell, it operates an efficient and transparent factory focused on producing high-quality cashmere garments while minimising waste and contamination. It uses a QR-code-based lot management system, supported by Haelixa, to track each lot throughout the production process. This digital and physical traceability ensures the integrity of the fibres and provides visibility into product origins.
Furthermore, Traceability also addressed the issue of fraudulent or fake cashmere flooding the market. The company informed that some suppliers blend cashmere with lower-quality fibres, deceiving consumers and undermining the reputation of genuine cashmere. By establishing a transparent supply chain, brands can verify the authenticity and ethical sourcing of the cashmere.
