Loro Piana honors cashmere excellence in New York 

12.89 microns: that’s the exceptional fineness of the cashmere recognized by Loro Piana this year. On November 10, 2026, the Maison unveiled the winners of the 11th edition of its Cashmere of the Year Award at a ceremony held at the Brant Foundation in New York. A tribute to the expertise of the herders behind this exceptional fiber. 

Established in 2015, the award recognizes the finest cashmere from Inner Mongolia, China, each year. Winners receive a financial reward per kilogram of fiber produced, and the first-prize winner also receives an intricately crafted silver comb symbolizing the traditional cashmere combing process. Since the award’s inception, the fineness of the winning fibers has continued to improve. 

Three couples of herders were honored this year for their 2025 production. First prize went to Mr. Siqingbilige and Mrs. Hasiqiqige for 135.8 kg of washed cashmere with a fiber diameter of 12.89 microns. Mr. Jiyatu and Mrs. Gegentuya received second prize (87.1 kg at 13.01 microns), followed by Mr. Lifuqiang and Mrs. Qiqi (116 kg at 13.04 microns). 

For the occasion, the Brant Foundation is hosting an immersive exhibition dedicated to Loro Piana: Master of Cashmere: The Quest for Fibre Excellence. From the Mongolian steppes to the Maison’s creations, the exhibition traces the journey of this precious fiber and the craftsmanship involved in transforming it.  

This pursuit of excellence goes hand in hand with a commitment to preserving natural resources. Since 2009, The Loro Piana Method has helped improve cashmere quality while contributing to the preservation of the Alashan goat. Launched in 2025 in partnership with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Resilient Threads supports herding communities and biodiversity across the Mongolian steppes.  

A way to pay tribute to the herders whose expertise makes Loro Piana cashmere exceptional, and a commitment to shaping the future of the entire cashmere ecosystem, for the benefit of animals, people and the environment.