Who We Are
Our story begins on the grasslands of Inner Mongolia, along the 40th parallel north. There, harsh winters and open pastures give cashmere goats their fine, soft undercoat. For over fifteen years, IRAY Cashmere has brought that fibre to Tongxiang, Zhejiang, a town at the heart of China's knitwear industry, and spun it into yarns made for designers.
We started with classic cashmere, but curiosity kept pulling us further. Over the years, we began blending cashmere with silk, linen, lurex and sequin, experimenting with loops, knops and flecks of colour. That became our specialism: fancy yarns that let knitwear tell a richer story. Every season, our R&D team keeps asking what cashmere can become next.
Today, that curiosity has brought us to Europe. With a team on the ground in the UK, we work directly with knitwear brands and emerging designers, and through the IRAY Prize, we're investing in the next generation of talent. From the grasslands to the runway, we believe the best yarns are the ones that inspire something new.
Our Ethical Foundation
Every IRAY yarn begins in Inner Mongolia, where herding families have raised cashmere goats across the grasslands for generations. We source white cashmere of exceptional fineness and length, and our team visits the region to meet herders, walk the pastures and see first-hand where our fibre comes from. We believe good yarn starts with respect for the land, the animals and the people who care for them. By choosing fibre carefully and spinning it to last, we hope to create cashmere that is valued, worn and loved for years to come.
PROVENANCE • QUALITY • HERITAGE
Track Record
2012: Founding
2018:The Fancy Yarn Specialism
IRAY Cashmere is founded in Tongxiang, Zhejiang, spinning fine cashmere yarns from Inner Mongolian fibre.
We begin developing fancy yarns, blending cashmere with silk, linen, lurex and sequin. This becomes the heart of what we do.
2021: On the International Stage
Launched the annual design competition, inviting global designers to explore the intersection of ancient and modern.
2026: Supporting Young Designers
2026: A New Chapter in Europe
Scaling operations to include a wider range of sustainable yarns and artisanal collections worldwide.
With a team now based in the UK, we work directly with European brands and designers. In September, we launch the IRAY Prize for fashion and textile students across the UK and Europe.
