The allure of cashmere sweaters, often found at surprisingly low prices, is undeniable. Known for its exceptional softness, lightness, and warmth, cashmere is a highly coveted fiber. However, this widespread availability and affordability come with a significant environmental and ethical cost, driven by unsustainable production practices.

Traditional cashmere is derived from the fine undercoat of specific goat breeds, with each animal yielding only about four to six ounces (113 to 170 grams) annually. This limited supply struggles to meet the demands of a rapidly expanding global market.

"The producers of raw materials are actually under a lot of stress," Sim Gulati, co-founder and CEO of Everbloom, told TechCrunch. "What you're seeing now, especially with the advent of $50 cashmere sweaters, is that they're being sheared way more often. The quality of the fiber is not as good, and it's creating unsustainable herding practices."

Everbloom's AI-Powered Textile Revolution

Instead of attempting to reform existing herding practices or persuade consumers to exclusively purchase premium cashmere, Gulati and his team at Everbloom conceived a groundbreaking alternative. The startup, which has successfully raised over $8 million from investors including Hoxton Ventures and SOSV, is dedicated to creating upcycled materials that are virtually indistinguishable from their virgin counterparts.

At the heart of Everbloom's innovation is Braid.AI, a sophisticated material science artificial intelligence. This AI model can precisely fine-tune various parameters to engineer fibers with diverse qualities, targeting materials from polyester to luxurious cashmere.

Everbloom's core process remains consistent, regardless of the desired final product. The company currently gathers waste materials from across the fiber supply chain, including discarded cashmere and wool from farms and mills, as well as down from bedding suppliers. A key future expansion involves incorporating feathers from the poultry industry. These diverse waste streams share a crucial commonality: they are all rich in keratin, the fundamental protein that underpins Everbloom's transformative process.

From Waste to Wearable: The Manufacturing Process

The collected waste is first chopped to an appropriate size and then combined with Everbloom's proprietary chemical compounds. This mixture is subsequently fed through a plastic extrusion machine, which shapes the material by forcing it through a die. The resulting pellets are then processed by standard spinning machines, typically used in the production of polyester fiber.

"That equipment is used for 80% of the textile market," Gulati explained. "You have to be a drop in replacement."

Crucially, all the necessary chemical reactions for transforming waste into new fiber occur within these two machines. By leveraging its AI to adjust the formulation and the processing parameters of the machinery, Everbloom can create fibers that accurately replicate the properties of a wide range of textiles, from common polyester to premium cashmere.

Sustainable, Biodegradable, and Economically Viable

Everbloom asserts that every fiber it produces, including its polyester replacements, is designed to be biodegradable.

"All the components that we're using are biodegradable," Gulati stated, adding that the company is currently conducting accelerated testing to validate this hypothesis. He also emphasized that by utilizing waste products, the environmental footprint of their materials will be significantly reduced.

Beyond its environmental benefits, Everbloom's approach also promises economic advantages. "We want it to be more economically viable for brands and consumers," Gulati said, rejecting the notion of a "sustainable premium" where eco-friendly products inherently cost more. "In order for a material to be successful – both in the supply chain [and for] the consumer – you have to have both a product benefit and an economic benefit to everyone who touches the product. That's what we're aiming for."