Cashmere sweaters have become increasingly common, frequently available at surprisingly affordable rates. The attraction is clear: anyone who has experienced cashmere knows its exceptional softness, lightweight feel, and warmth—a remarkable fiber that's difficult to resist. However, these low prices typically signal a compromise. Cashmere is sourced from the delicate undercoat of specific goat breeds. On average, a single goat is sheared twice per year, yielding only four to six ounces (113 to 170 grams) of cashmere each year. This limited supply struggles to meet expanding demand.

"The current trend, particularly with the rise of $50 cashmere sweaters, involves over-shearing the goats," one expert noted. "This not only reduces fiber quality but also promotes unsustainable herding methods."

Instead of attempting to reform herding techniques or persuade buyers to purchase only premium cashmere, Gulati and the Everbloom team pursued an alternative approach. The startup, which has secured more than $8 million in funding from backers like Hoxton Ventures and SOSV, aimed to develop an upcycled fabric that closely mimics genuine cashmere.

To achieve this, Everbloom built a material science AI named Braid AI. This system can adjust various parameters to engineer fibers with specific characteristics. While cashmere is a primary focus, the technology also targets other common textiles. Regardless of the end material, Everbloom's core method remains consistent.

The company currently gathers waste from multiple points in the fiber supply chain, including cashmere and wool farms, mills, and down bedding producers. Future plans involve incorporating additional waste streams, such as feathers from the poultry industry. All these materials share a critical component: keratin, the essential protein that enables Everbloom's process.

The collected waste is shredded, blended with proprietary compounds, and then pressed through a plastic extrusion machine, which shapes the material by pushing it through a die. The resulting pellets are fed into spinning machines typically used for polyester production. "That equipment handles 80% of the textile market," Gulati explained. "You need to be a seamless replacement."

All required chemical transformations take place within these two machines. By using its AI to modify the formulation and processing, Everbloom can produce fibers that emulate materials ranging from polyester to cashmere. The startup claims every fiber it creates is biodegradable, including its polyester alternative.

"All the components we use are biodegradable," Gulati stated, noting that the company is conducting accelerated testing to verify this claim. He added that because Everbloom utilizes waste materials, the environmental footprint is significantly reduced. The process is also designed to be more cost-effective.

"We aim for greater economic feasibility for both brands and consumers," Gulati said. He rejects the notion of a "sustainable premium"—the idea that eco-friendly products should carry a higher price. "For a material to succeed throughout the supply chain and with consumers, it must offer both a product advantage and an economic benefit to everyone involved. That is our goal."