Vegetable Cashmere™ Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: David Lee dlee@kddance.com 646-600-0483

September 4, 2019 (BRONX, NY) — KD New York introduces a new collection of knitwear made from Vegetable Cashmere™, a plant-based cashmere-alternative made entirely without animal fibers. The fiber and collection are the vision of David Lee, a former dancer in the Oakland Ballet Company and founder of dancewear brand KD New York. The collection will launch on Kickstarter on September 4, 2019. Preview the page!

Vegetable Cashmere™ is a proprietary blend developed to address the increased demand for cashmere and the associated environmental costs.

“Cashmere is a luxury item,” says Mr. Lee, “mass-producing cashmere at a cheap price point is terribly unsustainable and detrimental to animals and the earth. I have been working on an earth and animal-friendly alternative for over five years. We are now ready to roll out our first Vegetable Cashmere™ Athleisure Collection through a Kickstarter campaign.”

Development of Vegetable Cashmere™ began with Mr. Lee collaborating with a factory experimenting with soy-based yarns. To achieve the look and feel of animal cashmere, a blend was developed using soy, and a proprietary blend of fibers. The material is made entirely from certified organic plants and is BLUESIGN® approved from raw material through finished product.

The production of this fiber is an effort to find a solution to the harmful practices and overconsumption of animal cashmere. Although no textile can be considered perfectly sustainable, this blend is produced with minimal impact on the environment and economical use of energy and water. The soybean fiber is made from reclaimed byproducts of the organic soy industry, which would otherwise be discarded. The chemicals used in processing are reused wherever possible, making production a mostly closed-loop process. As a naturally derived fiber, Vegetable Cashmere™ is also biodegradable — reducing environmental impact throughout each garment’s entire lifecycle.

The Kickstarter collection will feature classic KD New York athleisure styles made with Vegetable Cashmere™ fabric. The plant-based material matches animal cashmere in softness with superior drape and breathability. In addition, the plant fiber brings anti-bacterial qualities and is machine-washable without shrinkage, making it ideal for activewear.

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About KD New York

KD New York was founded in 1983 by David Lee and fellow Oakland Ballet dancer, Tricia Kaye. KD garments have been worn by some of the best athletes in the world including leading dancers in New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Alvin Ailey and Martha Graham Dance Company. Today, KD New York is still based in the South Bronx, innovating on design and manufacturing processes and producing made-to-order activewear.  

kdnewyork.com