Cocoonu » ethical gifts

COCOONU FEATURED PRODUCT OF THE WEEK – 100 % CASHMERE MEN’S JUMPERS

helen — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:26:59 +0000

This week we are featuring our exquisite 100% pure cashmere men’s jumpers.Â Cocoon your man in the softest, most stylish cashmere by giving him a Christmas gift of sublime luxury from our knitwear range.

Classic and stylish or contemporary with a modern twist, our collection of 100% cashmere jumpers for men offers knitwearÂ for all seasons and all ages.Â Our cable knit jumper offers the ultimate indulgenceÂ with incredible warmth and our front and shoulder button styles, with contrast edging,Â offer a lighter weight with a modern touch.Â The men’s 100% cashmere polo neck is the ultimate classic piece.

CocoonU offers the perfect mix of luxury and ethical sourcing. We offer superior quality for men and their lifestyle and all our jumpers work forÂ any formal, casual or sportingÂ occasion.Â All men will enjoy the embrace of anyÂ pieceÂ from our CocoonU menswear collection.

The perfect Christmas gift from CocoonU

helen — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:27:28 +0000

CHRISTMAS AT COCOONU!

CocoonU offers the perfect gift for your loved ones,Â family members and friends asÂ ChristmasÂ fast approaches.Â Sourced ethically, each purchase is made knowing you are supporting the planet.Â We have a wide range of gorgeous options to cover all budgets – browse our website and you will find something for everyone.Â For the ideal stocking filler, give aÂ bathroom treat with one of our organic soaps for men and women; totally chemical free.

For Men…

CocoonU can solveÂ any gift dilemma forÂ the man in your life, even theÂ one you think has everything!Â From our 100% pure cashmere selection, both stylish and practical,Â allÂ knits such as our crew neck jumper and accessories – see our knitted and woven unisex scarves, ribbed hats or soft and warm socks -Â all offer a luxurious, uniqueÂ gift, sourced ethically.

For Women…

The perfect gift for any woman – CocoonU has a range of 100% pure cashmere exquisite, stylish, accessories andÂ knitwear in a wide variety of beautiful colours.Â Each piece offers unrivalled warmth and softness and areÂ perfect for cold winter days; whether tucked up inside with our luxury dressing gown and a pair of long socks or outside in a gorgeous hat and scarf set. Equally, the designs and colours make an eye-catching on-trend statement.

She will also love our lavender and honey organic soap to cleanse, moisturise and exfoliate leavingÂ soft, smooth skin.

CocoonU, our company, our luxury ethical products, our promise to you

jessica — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:29:31 +0000

CocoonU, the finest embrace, strives to combine the most beautiful, tactile luxury products sourced from around the world. The collection offers a unique portfolio of timeless, irresistible pieces of unrivalled quality for the individual and the home. Our products are sourced using ethical, eco and organic principles bringing a touch of sublime indulgence into your life and home with a clear conscience.

CocoonU cashmere was originally inspired by the combination of lifestyle and beliefs of the nomadic herders in Outer Mongolia. Sourcing from this environment using sustainable and ethical practices has enabled CocoonU to produce a 100% cashmere andÂ aÂ lighterÂ silk and cotton mixÂ range; all with unrivalled softness,Â timeless designs and for all seasons.

The new 100% organic bath and body products use the finest natural ingredients with the purest of essential oils, locally sourced goatâ€™s milk and honey all lovingly handmade in the UK

Our eco-friendly jewellery is all sourced from ethical, fair-trade and eco designers from around the world.Â Whether you are seeking something unique and original, sleek and contemporary, classic and sophisticated, or traditional with a modern twist, we have an exciting range of stylish and affordable pieces to see you through not only this season, but the next and beyond. It’s jewellery that’s pleasurable to wear, beautiful to look at and designed to be as individual as you.

‘We Make a Living From Luxury’, CocoonU features in Woman and Home

jessica — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:12:34 +0000

Woman and Home New Directions feature CocoonU

Vanessa Streeton, founder of CocoonU features in the October Issue of Woman and Home. Here’s the article for our online followers

“I WANTED BEAUTIFUL CASHMERE PRODUCTS

THAT WERE TOTALLY ETHICAL”

Vanessa Streeton. Founder of CocoonU.com

Old Job : Business Development Consultant

New Job : Founder of CocoonU (cocoonu.com), which sells ethical and eco cashmere and skin-care products

“I first heard about Mongolian cashmere from a boyfriend, who has seen it on his travels and suggested i do something with it

I did some research and discovered that 70% of the world’s cashmere comes from China, where goats are artifically fed, living on top of each other and turning the land into dust bowls. In Mongolia, however, herders move the goats to different pastures every few weeks, while the extreme winters create the fine cashmere on the goat’s belly.

I emailed the director of the factory in Mongolia and, when he came to meet me, i felt the cashmere and was smitten. It was infinitely softer than the mass-produced stuff. And, as the factory workers work eight hours a day and have equal pay, i saw a niche market for brining in an ethical, sustainable yet beautiful product that people would feel good about buying.

So i designed some jumpers, a polo and a v-neck – based on a classic jumper i had in my wardrobe, with a few added touches – and sent them to the factory. I then paid a web company to set up an ecommerce website on which to sell them. They sold really well, but i realised you need a massive outlay to sell sized products, so i focused on accessories, such as shawls, scarves, hats and socks instead. Then i designed a home collection of cushion covers and throws.

I thought that my throws and shawls would make the perfect corporate gifts, so i made a list of yachting, motor and private aviation companies, along with top hotels and high end shops, to target. Six months after i started, i won a contract to be a gift supplier for a private jet-hire company. We supply everything from golf sweaters to shawls, and they buy scarves and hats for private skiing and shooting events they run.

CocoonU feature in the Quintessentially Living coffee table book

I also work with Quintessentially, a high-end concierge service. If one of their clients needs a gift for someone, we’re one of the companies they call. We are also in their Living coffee table book, which goes out to spas, hotels and homes across the world. I met their sales and marketing director at a party – so these things do happen!

We’ve just won a contract with George Smith, the high-end furniture company, and have just launched CocoonU for George Smith – a range of cushion covers and sofa throws that will be sold in their stores worldwide. The New York launch is next month, which is very exciting.

I was on the cusp of a Â£1.8 million deal with a luxury car company. But, a weekbefore Christmas, they cancelled due to the recession. Still, i have to pat myself on the back for getting that far.

In the next month few months we are launching organic skin-care products, plus a range of floppy beanie hats, hug scarves and ski gloves aimed at a younger market. We’ll also be opening our first shop in Harrogate, as i want people to come in and feel and smell how wonderful our products are.

I haven’t taken out loans, as i plough my earning back into the company, and have only just started to pay myself. Our turnover is increasing, though, so i’ll soon earn what i used to. I have two part time staff: one deals with finance, the other with marketing and trade shows, plus two consultants, who deal with my website and online marketing.

Staying with the luxury industry saved my company. If i’d gone mainstream, i would have gone bust because of high-street retailers selling cashmere jumpers for Â£20. But i love my job and i love that i’m selling something that’s unique and ethical too”

Thanks to Woman and Home for our feature.

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CocoonU are creating a brand in the current recession. CocoonU are unique, high quality and our products have a fanstasic story. We are sending a true mesaage to the consumer about ingredients and products. These products can only be bought via CocoonU, making it an individual product as well as a feel good product.

Ask yourself, how many people know where their products come from? answers on a blog

Mongolian culture and religion

jessica — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 21:04:00 +0000

Mongolia is located at the heart of Asia landlocked between two giant countries Russia and China. A left over piece of land from its dynasty, ruling half of the world 800 years ago, Mongolia is 3 times bigger than the UK with only 2.8 million of a population.

Its beautiful landscape varies depending in which part of the country you are. High mountains, lakes, forests and Gobi desert breathtakingly blend with its nomads peacefully grazing their animals, horses, camels, sheep, goats and cows, in the wide open spaces.

Mongoliaâ€™s nomadic lifestyle has not been influenced much despite Russian control for over 70 years right before democracy, which began in 1990. A strong Russian influence to change its culture began in 1921 destroying over 700 monasteries and killing thousands monks and intelligent Mongolians.

Democracy arrived in the early 1990â€™s helped to slowly recover what people lost during communism. Today Mongolia is progressively changing under a free market economy and absorbing many of new developments of globalization.

Mongolia has so much natural resources, minerals and gems stones, which our ancestors have not touched. In a Market economy where everyone chases after money the countryâ€™s natural resources are the target for making money and selfishness and greediness of private businessmen to use for their personal benefit does not help the economy to grow but negatively impacts on nature and environment. Private companies and hand mining of desperate people destroy land, rivers and trees due to lack of consciousness and commitment to invest back into nature.

The strongest religion in Mongolia is Buddhism; it was introduced in 1300 century by Chingis Khaanâ€™s grandson Kublai Khan. A highly intelligent King who invited a senior ranking monk from Tibet to gain spiritual guidance while he was ruling the Mongolian dynasty from Beijing. Since then Buddhism has played a significant role in the country and people, from generation to generation it was carried solemnly as a part of daily life and culture.

Soldiers who had previously invaded countries on horseback with weapons in hand totally changed in order to bring peace in earth and became monks with beads in their hand, trying to restore peace by enlightening peopleâ€™s minds free from suffering.

Buddhism which forcibly died down during socialism under Russian control has quickly revived since democracy took place. The temples have been restored and new ones built and the number of Buddhist practitioners increased. Births, deaths, weddings, starting new business, lunar year celebration, etc in fact every event involves religion and rituals, which are becoming more of a necessity to ensure proper practicing of religion. Mongolia does not discriminate over the peopleâ€™s right to choose their faith and religion and there are all kinds of religion exist, but 90% of population practices Buddhism.

A political stability and tolerance towards other religions and less violence between ethnic groups compared to some other nations is a reflection of the Buddhist philosophy to love every human being equally.

Rural areas are least inflicted in any external change, therefore they carry the values of culture and religion which xisted hundreds of years ago. Slow reaction to the modern society is related to remoteness, small population and underdevelopment of infrastructure. The contrast between city life and countryside is becoming increasingly apparent, it is not clear to anyone yet what kind of future lies there with the migration of rural inhabitants to the capital city of Mongolia, where people seek for jobs, better education and medical service.

CocoonU was inspired by the combination of lifestyle and beliefs of the nomadic herders who live in Outer Mongolia. Their simplistic, mutually supportive life has given us the opportunity to create the most stunning collection of 100% cashmere knitted and woven throws, cushion covers and blankets, using sustainable, eco and ethical practices.

View our cashmere collections at www.cocoonu.com

CocoonU launch NEW 100% organic skin care collection

jessica — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 21:12:14 +0000

CocoonU’s NEW 100% organic skin care collection – using only the finest natural ingredients with the purest of organic essential oils, locally sourced goat’s milk and honey. All lovingly handmade in the UK. View our new range

CocoonU bath and body organic skincare and haircare range

CocoonU â€“ Finest Pure Mongolian Cashmere

jessica — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:51:28 +0000

Like all luxury goods, public and industry perceptions often assume that all is equal and that the best is the best. Cashmere is cashmere surely? Well only in the same way that wine is wine.

To be sure that your cashmere items are the absolute finest, there can only be one source – Outer Mongolia and CocoonU in particular.

Why is our cashmere simply the finest?

Cashmere from CocoonU is the finest available from legal sources. The harsh winter climate of Outer Mongolia ensures that our fibres beat all others. It is most suitable for high grade knits because each downy strand is very thin and very long. The length directly affects the touch and feel of the cashmere. What gives our cashmere a soapier feel is known by an affect called coarseness. Coarseness in this regard is the friction that occurs when sections of cashmere hair is rubbed or touched by the skin.

Country of origin	Fiber diameter	Fiber length
*Outer Mongolia* *(CocoonU)Â*	15,0-16,5 Ã¬m	up to 50 mm
Inner Mongolia (CHINA PRC)	14,0-16,0 Ã¬m	up to 40 mm
Afghanistan	16,5-18,0 Ã¬m	up to 45 mm
Iran	17,5-19,0 Ã¬m	up to 50 mm
Australia	16,0-19,0 Ã¬m	up to 45 mm

Cashmere is a hair-like downy fiber and hair itself is made of platelets or scale like sections, much like stacking cups together.

In the case of the widely used but inferior Inner Mongolian (Chinese) cashmere, the diameter of each cup is very narrow, but the height of each cup is also very short. Hence you get a very thin stack or cups that is; for the sake of example about 40 mm tall. Here there are many individual cups or sections stacked together to make up this 40 mm strand; there are many gaps where the cups are joined.
These gaps are what affect the soft feeling because the more gaps you have, there are more contact points for friction to occur.

CocoonU Cashmere Collection

Now if you take our Outer Mongolian cashmere in comparison the cups are perhaps at times 1 micron thicker, but each cup is much taller. Therefore you get a stack that is a little thicker but 50 mm tall.

It takes fewer sections of cups and even fewer gaps to be 50 mm tall, which is the case for CocoonU cashmere. Because our stack of cups has fewer gaps or joints in the stack the friction ratio is very low. Adding to this is the quality of strength; our cashmere fibers are stronger which makes for even better yarn.

This is why super thin fiber does not necessary mean it makes for a better cashmere yarn.

Ours is simply the most suitable for strong, soft, and high grade cashmere. This has now been confirmed by a leading European fashion house who has confirmed that CocoonU cashmere surpassed their requirements for quality and price.

Our quality factors are:
â€¢ Most Favorable in Width per downy strand
â€¢ Extremely Long fiber
â€¢ Extremely Strong fiber
â€¢ â€˜Soapierâ€™ Feel

Ethical
In addition we are thought to be the only processor and manufacturer in Mongolia who personally know our suppliers. We are committed to ethical practices and work closely with our goat herders to optimize the benefits to them goat herders and their families. We are currently investigating having our cashmere FairTrade certified.

CocoonU Cashmere Black Pashmina

Our Products and Services

We can make knits with high quality yarn in all sorts of colors and gauges.
We can make different items and styles ranging from scarves, shawls, socks, knitwear, cardigans, jackets, blankets,throws,pashmina’s,dressing gowns etcâ€¦
When it comes to colors, we can make colors to suite the requirements of our clients â€“ any colour on the Pantoneâ„¢ chart .

We can create a brand and supply luxury gifts.

We don’t just do cashmere…..Contact vanessa@cocoonu.com for further details

Outer Mongolia & Cashmere. Did you know?

jessica — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:12:00 +0000

Outer Mongolia is the world’s second-largest landlocked country after Kazakhstan. Its capital and largest city is Ulan Bator (Ulaanbaatar).

At 1,564,116 square kilometres, Outer Mongolia is the nineteenth largest, and the least densely populated independent country in the world. The country contains very little arable land as much of its area is covered by arid and unproductive steppes with mountains to the north and west and the Gobi Desert to the south. Approximately thirty percent of the country’s 2.8 million people are nomadic or semi-nomadic. The predominant religion in Outer Mongolia is Tibetan Buddhism, and the majority of the state’s citizens are of the Mongol ethnicity, though Buriats, Kazakhs and Tuvans also live in the country, especially in the west. About 38% of the population lives in Ulan Bator.

CocoonU Cashmere Socks

The Mongolian heartland consists of relatively flat steppes. The southern portion of the country is taken up by the Gobi Desert, while the northern and western portions are mountainous. The highest point in Outer Mongolia is the Khuiten in the Tavan bogd massif in the far west at 4,374 m (14,350 feet). The basin of the lake Uvs Nuur, shared with Tuva Republic in Russia, is a natural World Heritage Site.

Most of the country is hot in the summer and extremely cold in the winter, with January averages dropping as low as -30Â°C (-22Â°F). The country is also subject to occasional harsh climatic conditions known as zud. Ulaanbaatar has the coldest average temperature of any national capital in the world.

Landscape

Outer Mongolia is high, cold, and windy. It has an extreme continental climate with long, cold winters and short summers, during which most of its annual precipitation falls. The country averages 257 cloudless days a year, and it is usually at the centre of a region of high atmospheric pressure. Precipitation is highest in the north (average of 20 to 35 centimetres per year) and lowest in the south, which receives 10 to 20 centimetres annually. The extreme south is the Gobi, some regions of which receive no precipitation at all in most years.

The name “Gobi” is a Mongol term for a desert steppe, which usually refers to a category of arid rangeland with insufficient vegetation to support marmots but with enough to support camels. Mongols distinguish Gobi from desert proper, although the distinction is not always apparent to outsiders unfamiliar with the Mongolian landscape. Gobi rangelands are fragile and are easily destroyed by overgrazing, which results in expansion of the true desert, a stony waste where not even Bactrian camels can survive.

Cashmere is characterized by its luxuriously soft fibres. In order for a natural goat fibre to be considered Cashmere, it must be under 18.5 micrometers in diameter and be at least 3.175 centimetres long. It is noted as providing natural light-weight insulation without bulk. Fibres are highly adaptable and are easily constructed into fine or thick yarns, and light to heavy-weight fabrics.

The fibres used by CocoonU are 14-15.5 microns thick and up to 5cm long â€“ this makes them exceptionally soft and also less prone to pilling than shorter thicker fibres.

CocoonU Cashmere Collection

Cashmere is appropriate for all climates; high moisture content allows insulation properties to change with the relative humidity in the air. It is a misconception that the finest fibres are harvested from the neck and belly of the goat as these are generally the dirtiest part of the animal and most subject to collecting debris. The finest fibres are gathered from the saddle of the Cashmere goat; most of the cashmere comes off of the sides and back of the goat’s body from the shoulder to the rump. If the goat is shorn, the fibre must be “de-haired” to remove the coarse, unusable guard hair. Sometimes the fine fibres are collected by combing the goat; either method is time consuming and tedious, thus the high cost of cashmere.

CocoonU only use combed cashmere.

China is the worlds largest cashmere producer, with Mongolia second. Mongolia is 112 places higher up the human rights league table than China. Unions are legal in Mongolia – there is a minimum wage and no known human rights abuses.

Many suppliers of cashmere claim that they source from Mongolia â€“ on closer examination they mean Inner Mongolia which is a region of China â€“ with sweat shops and human rights issues. CocoonU is one of the few companies sourcing from Outer Mongolia. This adds to our costs but also ensures exceptional quality.

Source of the fibre

The Cashmere (Kashmir) or goat down is the source of the wool that becomes cashmere fibre for clothing and other textile articles. The goat (Capra hircus Laniger) is a mammal belonging to the subfamily Caprinae of the family Bovidae. The goats produce a double fleece consisting of the fine, soft undercoat or under-own of hair commingled with a straighter and much coarser outer coating of hair called guard hair. In order for the fine under down to be sold and processed further, it must first be de-haired. De-hairing is a mechanical process that separates the coarse hairs from the fine hair and after de-hairing the resulting “cashmere” is ready to be dyed to colour and converted into yarn, fabrics and garments.

Introducing CocoonU beautiful tactile luxury products sourced from around the world

jessica — Fri, 29 May 2009 19:02:25 +0000

CocoonU, the finest embrace, strives to combine the most beautiful, tactile luxury products sourced from around the world. The collection offers a unique portfolio of timeless, irresistible pieces of unrivalled quality for the individual and the home. Our items are sourced using eco and ethical principles and bring a touch of sublime indulgence into your life.

CocoonU 100% cashmere pashmina in black

CocoonU combines exceptional quality and classic designs, using only the very best raw materials, created by temperatures of minus 50 degrees. Sourcing our cashmere from Outer Mongolia leaves the owner of these beautiful products with a clear conscience and only the only lightest footprint on the planet. The collection ranges from interiors, knitwear and accessories to luxury corporate gifts and bespoke designs. Cashmere is a true investment which will repay you year after year.

CocoonU fairtrade ethical and ecofriendly jewellery

CocoonUâ€™s stunning new jewellery collection offers a mixture of colourful, handcrafted pieces from designers across the globe.

Created from the highest quality raw, natural materials, each item has a unique texture and glamour, adding an individual elegant edge to any outfit.