Simone Bruns, a Hamburg resident, has made a name for herself in the international art and charity scene over the years. Her success includes numerous, often spectacular, fundraising galas and auctions, in which she has raised money for good causes. A total of around 1.5 million euros was raised for international public exhibition projects and charity auctions. In 2014, she auctioned photographs by renowned artists on behalf of Welthungerhilfe (WHH), benefiting Sierra Leone. This project alone raised around 200,000 euros. To this day, WHH uses the money to support poor farming families in recultivating their land for organic cocoa cultivation. With this sustainability-oriented initiative, WHH enables farmers to sell their products more effectively on the global market and thus secure their long-term future. Simone Bruns describes this success as a turning point in her life. "I found it incredibly satisfying to be able to offer poor people on the other side of the world a perspective with the help of my network," she says. With this spirit in mind, she founded her label CASHMERE COUTURE | SIMONE BRUNS in July 2015. During a visit to Nepal following the devastating earthquake, she came up with the idea of forging a global alliance with the local cashmere producers and rural homeworkers. The goal is to offer rural women in particular sustainable, long-term career prospects. Since most of them cannot read or write, their craftsmanship in processing cashmere yarn is their only way to contribute to their families' livelihood. Simone Bruns: "By making just one scarf, a woman can feed her entire family." Her value chain begins in her own country with the development and design of the collections. On site in the Himalayas, the women implement the designs under the guidance of a local employee. At the end of the process, each unique, hand-crocheted and knitted piece receives its own serial number and is shipped to Germany. For their work, the women receive a monthly salary that is far above the average income of a Nepalese. Simone Bruns's greatest wish is to convince as many women as possible in Germany and Europe of this global collaboration. She says: "Our products are unique and luxurious highlights in every woman's wardrobe. Each one of them is also a messenger of humanity and appreciation."

ENGLISH VERSION

Simone Bruns has become a prominent figure in the international arts – and charity arena. With several, often spectacular events and auctions she managed to raise 1.5 million Euros for various good causes. A great success has been her 2014 photography auction on behalf of “Welthungerhilfe”, through which she gathered 200,000 Euros for Sierra Leone. The funds were used to support local farmers recultivate their land for growing organic cocoa, helping them to compete on a global market and achieve more sustainable livelihoods. Simone Bruns describes this experience as a personal and professional turning point: “being able to help people on the other side of the world by using my network has been incredibly rewarding”.

In 2015, Simone Bruns founded her fashion label “CASHMERE COUTURE / SIMONE BRUNS”. Deeply touched by the crisis unfolding, she traveled to Nepal after the earthquake in April and began to draw a global alliance with rural Cashmere producers. Due to widespread illiteracy, many people's livelihood depends on their ability to produce Cashmere threads. Simone Brun's goal is to create long term and sustainable professional perspectives in Nepal, particularly for women.

Simone Bruns' work begins at home with the development of her fashion collections. Back in the Himalayas, the female workers implement their designs under the supervision of a local employee. Each uniquely handmade item receives a serial number before it gets sent to Germany. The women receive a monthly wage significantly above the average Nepalese income. It is Simone Bruns deepest wish to reach as many women as possible for this exclusive cooperation. "Our products are unique and luxurious highlights in every woman's closet. Each of our items is also a symbol of hope and opportunity".

Cashmere stammt von der gleichnamigen Ziege aus dem Himalaya. Die mit der Hausziege verwandte Gattung mag die Kargheit, Trockenheit und vor allem Eiseskälte. Am wohlsten fühlen sich die Tiere auf einer Höhe über 4000 Meter über Meer. Durch die widrigen Umstände produzieren sie sehr strapazierfähiges Deckhaar. Um sich warm zu halten befindet sich darunter eine Art Vlies, unser begehrtes Kaschmir.

Das Fell wird während des Fellwechsels zum Ende des Winters bzw. im Frühjahr ausgekämmt. Teilweise werden die Ziegen auch maschinell geschoren. Pro Tier werden ca. 150 Gramm gesammelt. Sortiert wird von Hand nach Farben, schlechten Partien und gewaschen, um Fett und Verunreinigungen zu entfernen.

Das grobe Deckhaar (Grannen) wird von der gewünschten feinen Unterwolle getrennt. Dabei gilt, je feiner und länger die Faser ist, desto kostbarer ist sie. Als Cashmere bezeichnet werden dürfen Fasern mit einem Durchmesser von maximal 19 Tausendstelmillimeter. Man vergleiche dies mit einem menschlichen Haar; dies ist etwa 50 bis 70 Mikrometer fein! Dank ihres Crimp – Kräuselung der Haare - entstehen kleine Hohlräume, in welchen sich die Luft einschleusen kann. Dadurch geben sie eine Wärme ab, die nicht zu vergleichen ist! Selbst im Sommer ist ein Cashmere-Schal ein unverzichtbarer Begleiter.

Ebenfalls ein Qualitätsmerkmal ist die Länge der einzelnen Fasern. Je länger es ist, desto weniger besteht die Gefahr, dass sich einzelne Härchen im Gewebe lösen und so Juckreiz auslösen. Da die Cashmere-Faser nicht schuppenartig aufgebaut ist und kein Lanolin enthält, ist sie die einzige Wolle, die selbst Wollallgergiker tragen können.