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A Taste of What We Have to Offer!

Look at what I just got in the mail! Notice it came by courier into the USA before going into the mail? The wrapping is muslin cloth that has been sewn onto the box! How fun is that?!? My charka and punis came packaged like this. Makes you realize how inexpensive labor is in India.

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These takhlis will be going into our cotton kits. These fabulous kits have a variety of different cottons and cotton preparations for you to try with your lovely takhli or spin on your wheel. You will get to experience cotton in several different ways so you can pick your favorite preparation. We have two cotton kits: Cotton Sampler ($25) with a variety of fiber preparations and the Cotton Roving Sampler ($30) which has a variety of different rovings for the spinner to sample. Add a takhli and spinning cup to either sampler for only $15.

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The fiber shows start in September so we are busy dyeing fibers! Silk hankies are stacking up, waiting to be spun into fine threads and looking so luscious!

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We are introducing a new-for-us fiber blend, 50/50 Superwash Merino/Tencel. We think you are going to absolutely love it! It is shiny, oh so soft, and so easy to spin! We are putting this up in 4oz hanks and it will sell for $18. Ginger spun some of this fiber into a lace weight yarn and has been knitting a Pi Shawl. The yarn’s shine and depth of color make it hard to photograph, but the colors are rich with and have a lovely depth from the combination of wool and Tencel. Ginger’s shawl will be wonderful once it has been blocked so the pattern shows. Stay tuned for the final picture!

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Ewephoric Fibers is introducing our green cashmere for sale for the first time! This exquisite fiber was combed off goats living on the Patagonian Steppe. Ginger traveled to Argentina to work with the shepherds’ cooperative and to bring back cashmere. She purchased all the fiber the shepherds had — a very small amount! Be sure to read the previous post about these extraordinary people, their animals, and their lifestyle. This fiber is totally organic, renewable and has been purchased at a fair trade price. A percentage of the profit will go back to the cooperative to help the shepherds continue to improve their herds through replacement of livestock taken by predators, training and education. We think you will absolutely love the soft, buttery feel of this cashmere cloud and its amazing staple length which makes it a dream to spin! One ounce of beige or white Patagonian cashmere is $14 and the ultra-fine gray is $14.50. The quantities are very limited so don’t wait!

To purchase any of the above fibers, email ginger-at-ewephoricfibers-dot-com.

 

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“Green Cashmere” Field Work on the Patagonian Steppes

Many of you know that Ginger was headed to Argentina to interact with cashmere goat herders and the guanaco cooperative (www.payunmatru.com). After an overnight flight from Houston, TX to Buenos Aries, Argentina then an overnight bus ride to Junín de los Andes, the real adventure started! And yes, that is two days of travel to get to the beginning!

Grupo Costa del Rio Colorado cooperative
Ginger (far left) and the Grupo Costa del Rio Colorado Cooperative

Ginger writes:
Susan Walker, who works with the Wildlife Conservation Society (facebook.com/WCS.Patagonian.and.Andean.Steppe), and her husband, Andres Navarro, are long time friends and sponsored my visit to Argentina. They live in Junín and work in the Patagonian Steppe on habitat restoration for the benefit of threatened and endangered species such as the Andean cat, Darwin’s rhea, hairy armadillos and guanaco. As part of the effort to improve the habitat, WCS has been working with the local goat farmers to reduce over grazing of the fragile grasses allowing the return of the guanaco migrations and population expansion of animals that depend on the steppe for survival. Many of the local goats produce a cashmere undercoat, which increases the individual animal’s value. The herders are forming cooperatives, working with WCS veterinarians on better husbandry, and learning how to improve the quality of the cashmere through breeding management programs and by combing out the cashmere at the appropriate time.

Goats playing on the steppes
Goats playing on the steppes

I traveled to the Patagonian Steppe to observe the conditions of the farmers and animals, consult with the farmers to assist with improving the quality of the animals and fiber, and purchase raw cashmere. A day’s driving brought us to our first stop at the Grupo Costa del Río Colorado cooperative. This group is incorporating sustaining husbandry to reduce herd size and improve cashmere production. I was able to purchase a quantity of raw cashmere, which represented a 10% increase of their annual income. This was the first purchase of “green” cashmere: cashmere that was produced in a sustainable, environmentally friendly manner! It was very exciting to be part of this momentous event!

Guard dogs in training
Guard dogs in training

We visited another group, the Carrizalito Cooperative, and I was able to purchase more cashmere. Members of this group are incorporating guard dogs into their herds to reduce loss of goats to predators, mostly the puma. Where the dogs have integrated, the program has been a success! Both of these groups are working toward or have applied for Wildlife Friendly Certification from WCS (www.wildlifefriendly.org).

Migrating Guanaco
Migrating Guanaco

We drove through the Payunia reserve on our way to El Aguita where we spent a couple of nights. Along the way we observed large herds of guanaco migrating from wintering feeding grounds to the summer grounds. We had a meeting with the cooperative (www.payunmatru.com) who are shearing the guanaco. We discussed marketing, fiber, processing, I was able to evaluate the handspun and mill spun yarns. I was not able to purchase any guanaco on this trip, but Ewephoric Fibers still has a quantity available through our Etsy shop.

First ever sale of Green Cashmere
First ever sale of Green Cashmere

I will work with these groups to assist them in producing the best possible, sustainable cashmere by consulting on breeding programs, fiber collection, and by introducing this luxurious fiber to hand spinners and fiber artists through Ewephoric Fibers! Be sure to keep checking back with us as we process the raw cashmere into exquisitely soft and luxurious spinning fibers! I will share more tales of travel and keep everyone informed of the progress!