Don Fox
President
www.alashancashmere.com
Booth: 2109
What is one key factor in producing high quality fashion at an affordable price point?
With cashmere, it all begins with the fiber. Understanding the fiber is critical if you want to produce strong high quality retail items. We are cashmere specialists and have been for over 20 years. We know to use this luxurious fiber in the most intriguing yet price-competitive garments.
Name a few characteristics that influence the value of cashmere.
The value of cashmere is determined by the fiber – color, length and thickness (measured in mircons). Fine, long, white fiber is the most desirable, but we also offer a vibrant array of colors every season. I periodically visit the grasslands of Inner Mongolia and continue to build relationships with our key suppliers who understand our needs for fine, long, white cashmere.
Where can the world’s finest cashmere be found?
ALASHAN! Alashan is a region of western Inner Mongolia where the cashmere goats, through a combination of diet, geography and climate, produce the world’s finest and whitest cashmere fiber. I first visited this remote area in the mid-1990s and fell in love with the name. When I started my company 10 years ago, I knew the “Alashan” name would play an important role in our growth. in 1993. Among my responsibilities was the purchase of cashmere raw materials and managing Forté’s processing mills in Woonsocket, RI, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia and Verviers, Belgium. I transitioned into the production of finished product in the mid-1990s and established Alashan Cashmere Company in early 2004.
What is one of your “must-have” accessories for this upcoming Holiday/Resort ‘13-14 season?
Our Dress Topper Poncho from the Claudia Nichole Cashmere line of accessories. It is so versatile as it can be worn long in the front, short in the front, or on an angle; it can even be worn as a scarf in a pinch! It’s really something that has appeal all year round. We have the best price and best color selection (over 50 at any given time) for this 100% cashmere “must have.” Our retailers literally cannot keep them on the shelves.
What is your personal background in the fashion industry?
I began my career on the fiber side of the business with Forté Cashmere Company in 1993. Among my responsibilities was the purchase of cashmere raw materials and managing Forté’s processing mills in Woonsocket, RI, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia and Verviers, Belgium. I transitioned into the production of finished product in the mid-1990s and established Alashan Cashmere Company in early 2004.
If you were not a principal of this brand, what would you be doing?
That is a tough one… I draw inspiration from nature and the ocean in particular. I see myself outside; it could be on the water as a fisherman or perhaps in the fields as a farmer.