The Italian luxury house honored three couples of Inner Mongolian cashmere herders at The Brant Foundation on November 10
Loro Piana celebrated the 11th edition of its Cashmere of the Year Award with a ceremony and exclusive gala dinner at The Brant Foundation in New York on November 10, 2026. Established in 2015, the annual award recognizes cashmere herders whose fibers meet the house’s standards of quality and fineness, reflecting its longstanding commitment to exceptional raw materials and the craftsmanship behind their production. The evening brought together figures from fashion, art, and entertainment to honor three couples of herders from Inner Mongolia for their achievements in 2025.
The celebration took place within The Brant Foundation’s historic 1920s building, where guests were welcomed by an immersive installation dedicated to the tactile qualities of cashmere. The ground floor was transformed into an environment inviting visitors to engage directly with the material, establishing a sensory introduction to the evening’s focus on fiber excellence and the traditions surrounding its production.
Guests were also invited to explore Master of Cashmere: The Quest for Fiber Excellence, an installation examining Loro Piana’s relationship with cashmere and its approach to responsible sourcing, innovation, and research. Through educational displays, the exhibition traced the material’s origins, the expertise required to produce exceptional fibers, and the processes through which the house continues to refine their qualities. The presentation offered a comprehensive perspective on the relationship between traditional knowledge and technological development in cashmere production.
The award ceremony recognized three couples from Inner Mongolia whose cashmere demonstrated exceptional fineness. First prize was presented to Mr. Siqingbilige and Mrs. Hasiqiqige, whose winning bale weighed 135.8 kilograms of greasy cashmere with a fiber diameter of 12.89 microns. Second prize went to Mr. Jiyatu and Mrs. Gegentuya, who produced 87.1 kilograms of greasy cashmere measuring 13.01 microns, while third prize was awarded to Mr. Lifuqiang and Mrs. Qiqi, whose 116-kilogram bale measured 13.04 microns.
Each winning couple received a financial reward calculated according to the quantity of fiber produced, along with an intricately crafted silver comb symbolizing the traditional cashmere gathering process. Since the award’s establishment in 2015, Loro Piana has observed significant improvements in cashmere fineness, underscoring the importance of its continued relationships with herders and its investment in raw material excellence.
Following the ceremony, guests gathered for an intimate dinner surrounded by floral arrangements, dark wooden furnishings, and soft lighting. The three award-winning cashmere bales were displayed at the center of the dining room, placing the work of the honored herders at the heart of the celebration. Attendees included Jeremy Strong and Emma Wall, Bruce Springsteen and Jessica Springsteen, Jeff and Justine Koons, Nicky Hilton, John Currin and Rachel Feinstein, Tom Sachs, Huma Abedin, Fabiola Beracasa Beckman, Indre Rockefeller, Lisa and Alexander Vreeland, Mary Frey, and Gucci Westman.
Through the Cashmere of the Year Award, Loro Piana continues to highlight the individuals and specialized knowledge behind one of its defining materials. By bringing the achievements of Inner Mongolian herders into a setting that connects fashion, art, and craftsmanship, the house reinforces the importance of preserving traditional expertise while advancing the standards of contemporary luxury textile production.
