FEELING THE SENSE WITH FAIR TRADE CASHMERE

The collaboration CERVO x FTC® was initiated through the common ground of shared values that bond and inspire. We share the love for details and the demand for highest quality and comfort as well as our sustainability efforts. Together we want to offer you unforgettable moments. The team of FTC® has hit the keyboard and wants to share with you their story. Keep on reading and find out why our two companies are such a great fit.

This summer we had a photo shoot at CERVO to capture the beautiful cashmere knits from FTC®. The atmosphere in the hotel matched the fashion brand right away. Maria snuggled into the styles by FTC® and photographer Maja took the pictures of coziness. After that, we’ve decided that you (the guests at CERVO) should get an exclusive discount. Because especially in winter you can hardly do without cashmere in Zermatt. Find out at the end of the blog how to get the discount code.

FEELING THE SENSE

FTC® stands for Fair Trade Cashmere and behind it is a two-generation family business, headquartered in Switzerland. The special thing about FTC® is that the entire value chain of the fashion brand (from the company’s own cashmere goat farm to the manufacturing and the distribution warehouse) is in the hands of the company. FTC® sees this internal transparency and understanding of its own value chain as an indispensable basis for combining sustainability with fashion and setting new standards.

FTC STANDS FOR FAIRTRADE CASHMERE

FTC® was founded in 2003 with the aim of producing cashmere fashion under fair conditions and at fair prices. The founding couple Jutta and Andreas Knezovic not only shared a passion for textiles and the exclusive cashmere material, but also for China, a country rich in tradition. To improve the regional living conditions of the people and to process the cashmere material under fair conditions, FTC® has established its own complete value chain.

FTC® has established itself as a strong premium brand, with climate-neutral (with ClimatePartner) and pollutant-free (STANDARD 100 BY OEKO-TEX® certified) styles. In addition to the core competence cashmere, innovative material blends are used to complement the range (e.g. the SeaCellTM Cashmere).

FROM THE CASHMERE GOAT TO THE FAVORITE SWEATER

In the loess plateau in the north of China lies the „New Shaanxi Goat Farm“ of FTC®, which today has over 16’000 cashmere goats. FTC® operates and manages the farm – from the cultivation of fodder (corn and alfalfa) to the treatment and extraction of the finest cashmere. The cashmere fibers are extracted annually, during the transitional period from winter to summer. Cashmere (also called „white gold“) is considered one of the most exclusive natural fibers due to its limited availability and unique fineness.

In the Chinese province of Hebei, all further process steps up to the final product, take place in FTC®’s own manufactory: Washing, sorting, carding, tuft dyeing, knitting (fully-fashioned), warping, preparation testing and final picking. FTC® is a knitting specialist – the product management/design team in Switzerland works closely with the production team in China to realize the detailed styles and colorful collections.

UPKNIT – UPCYCLING FOR UNIQUENESS

FTC® always strives for optimizing their value chain in a sustainable way. Since 2020, FTC® cooperates with Haelixa – a Swiss innovation company that creates full traceability in the supply chain. For that FTC® takes a pioneering role in cashmere fashion.

By questioning and analyzing its own value chain „UpKnit – Upcycling for Uniqueness“ was created – a product line in which „scrap yarns“ left over from the knitting process are recycled by joining them together. Since the colors and lengths of the scrap yarns vary greatly, the result is a colorful, unique hand-knit look design. Although the production time is significantly increased due to the manual work of joining, 440 kg (as of February 2021) of the 600 kg of residual yarns (as of February 2019) have already been recycled. FTC® is thus on the way to achieving zero-waste production.

GET YOUR EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT

This December you have a second chance to get the exclusive discount code for FTC® styles. Subscribe to the CERVO newsletter to receive the code or book your stay for December in Zermatt.

To be inspired, find Christmas gifts or discover your favorite knits, dive into the world of FTC® and browse through the cashmere products online.

www.ftc-cashmere.com

www.cervo.swiss
BEYOND EXPLORING