Shearign and combing tools of a sheep farmer are on display

A wool buyer inspects tha raw wool fiber before buying it from a farmer.

Several goats look expectantly to the camera

A bunch of goats in a field in inner mongolia

A factory worker in a knitting textile factory sets up the 3d knitting machine

A John Lewis label on top of a John Lewis sweater

White thread spinning in a machine in a textile factory

A factory worker sets up a 3d knitting machine.

2 factory workers oversee a line of bobbins being spun in a textile factory.

A factory worker overviews thread spinning in a textile factory

Wool being cleaned and steamed in a textile factory in Inner Mongolia

Factory lane workers in a textile factory with knitting bobbins.

John Lewis

The story of cashmere

As part of John Lewis‘ efforts to increase their transparency and accountability, they commissioned a photo and video essay about the origins of their cashmere and the processing behind the manufacturing. We halped create the pictures for the project and there was also a manufacturing video done at the same time.

Road trip to Inner Mongolia for John Lewis Cashmere Origins video — The beginning of the road trip from Yinchuan’s airport to Inner mongolia

We spent a total of 4 days travelling through the plains of Inner Mongolia where the fiber is sourced and the factories in China where their products are made.

Factory photoshoot for John Lewis Cashmere origins — J on a scouting day selecting scenes to shoot for the next day. (Ilford 400)

We travelled with a team to produce both photographs and a short video story for the brand that they released over christmas, where the cashmere season is in full swing.

With unrestricted access to the whole process, we were able to document it from beginning to end.

Similar manufacturing and factory videos can be found here