After five years of predominantly living in Kyrgyzstan since 2010, our family spent all of 2016 in the States as we focused on launching the June Cashmere brand. We plan to return to Kyrgyzstan in late January and as the days tick by we are increasingly cognizant of the big transition ahead of us. It takes time to truly settle in to a new place, and that process entails bumps and bruises as well as joys and victories. We are at the point now where we feel 75% at home in both places…of course America is our home and that is where our family and roots are. But we have had enough time in Kyrgyzstan to develop strong relationships and...
Today on the blog, we feature an interview with Kanat Anarbaev, general manager of Kyrgyzstan operations for June Cashmere. Kanat does a little bit of everything, but his main focus is working with families in the remote regions of Kyrgyzstan to teach them how to collect and grade cashmere, improve the quality of their fibers through breeding, and comb their goat's fiber. How long have you known Sy? I started working with Sy about 4 years ago. I met him through my cousin. At the time I had already begun traveling to the mountainous regions of Kyrgyzstan,teaching families how to comb the fiber off their cashmere goats. I was buying the fiber and then selling it for export to Chinese companies. Do you...
For our first blog post we're featuring an interview with founder, Sy Belohlavek. Have more questions for Sy? Leave us a comment or ask on social media! When did you first go to Kyrgyzstan?I grew up living overseas a lot, since my parents are in development work. As a college student, I was required to spend time abroad, and I wanted to go to the most unknown and intriguing place, and for me that was Kyrgyzstan. I first went in 2001 on a cross cultural trip as a student, and I fell in love. I went back in 2003 to volunteer at a university for a year. Belohlavek family How did you get into the cashmere yarn business?I was back...
Soon we will we begin regular blog posting to keep our fans engaged in our latest news and stories from our investment with the shepherd communities in Kyrgyzstan. Join the journey with us!
