Sorting of dirt and hair A steady but important process that creates local employment
Sorting of dirt and hair
A steady but important process that creates local employment
Because cashmere is free-range, its hair is covered with a year's worth of dirt, such as dead grass, twigs, and debris. This condition is called "dirt," and the dirt collected from pastoralists is packed in large sacks weighing 60 kilograms and brought to the sorting area.
The sorting process involves removing impurities from the hair. The sorting work is done by sea, and it seems to be the work of the local women. This sorting process is the most labor-intensive part of the cashmere wadding production process.
Unlike knitting and sewing, which require skilled technicians, sorting is simple work such as sorting out trash and twigs from the collected hairs and removing stuck-on dirt with chemicals. It is not a high wage, but it creates jobs for ordinary people and a lot of people.
It was a spectacular sight to see many women in a large room like a gymnasium, fully armed with hair covers and masks, staring into the eyes and silently sorting through the dirt.