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The Irish Ewe
Permanent Resident
USA
1052 Posts |
 Posted - 07/19/2006 : 09:01:25 AM
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Ok folks, looks like we have a wonderful little spoofer at work here. Below is a copy of the email I have gotten 5 times this morning, and although Cascade hasn't bothered to email me back yet, I'm assuming it's a spoof. Anyone else getting this?
PS - I have NOT opened the DAT file, nor will I risk it, nor would I recommend anyone else open it until we find out what the story is.
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Dear yarn customer,
Attached please find a letter that we recently sent to KFI's attorney,
regarding Debbie Bliss Cashmerino. Also enclosed are two test results that we received from the Cashmere and Camel Hair Manufacturer's Institute for the following: 1) Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran and 2) "Cashmere Luxury Aran" (this product was found in A.C. Moore but does not list a distributor's name on the label).
Beyond this information, we have no further comment.
We did not perform any of the test on these yarns and have no expert
information as to how K.D. Langley Fiber Services performed the tests for CCMI.
CCMI lists a free fiber testing service on its website. CCMI makes this service available "[f]or Retailers and Manufacturers of Cashmere and Camel Hair Garments and Accessories (not for consumers or general public use)."
Any questions regarding testing for Cashmere can be directed to CCMI:
Cashmere and Camel Hair Manufacturers' Institute
6 Beacon Street, Suite 1125
Boston MA 02108-3812
Telephone: 617-542-7481
Fax: 617-542-2199
http://www.cashmere.org/cm/testing.php
Sincerely,
Rob Dunbabin
Cascade Yarns |
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The Irish Ewe
Permanent Resident
USA
1052 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2006 : 07:06:06 AM
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Ok, seems no one else is willing to step up here - I emailed Cascade, and recieved this answer.
"We have been in a back and forth dialog with KFI regarding this and felt that we should inform our customers of what we know directly."
That was all the email said. It should be noted that we do not carry KFI yarns, and we never asked for this information. I asked for a Cascade company rep to call me today, as I fail to see why I am buying their yarn while they are slandering another company that they and I hold no stock in.
Frankly, I'm ripping. I hate spam, and to be dragged into someone else's fight is appaling. I am considering closing my Cascade account and taking all that money elsewhere - I never asked for this and I am not a paying customer who will roll over or pick sides, and no one has the right to ask me to.
No one has the right to ask any yarn shop to be involved in this against their will. I hope at least a few others will let Cascade know how they feel about being dragged into someone else's fight.
The Irish Ewe
Norway, Maine
http://www.TheIrishEwe.com |
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Clara
queen bee
USA
4063 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2006 : 07:23:27 AM
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It's my understanding that Cascade sent this out to all their customers, so since you're a Cascade customer, I wouldn't exactly call it spam. There's been much talk about this issue and it's pretty deep and pretty complicated. The reason you need to know if a yarn you're carrying is mis-labeled is because you, yourself, can be legally and financially responsible for any fines or suits brought on by the FTC. (The laws are extra tight on cashmere because the potential for abuse is so high.)
I do not know KFI's official response but I can certainly understand how serious this must be for all parties involved. For whatever reason, Cascade wanted to protect its customers from any fallout resulting from the discovery. Because there could be serious fallout.
The Cashmere and Camel Hair Manufacturer's Institute is the main trade group that regulates cashmere quality, so that's why they were mentioned. They conduct amazing tests that dissect yarn down to the micron level, and they help maintain pretty strict standards to keep the industry clean. I don't know why it was decided to test Cashmerino in particular, but at this point I think the results are more important than the motives - at least where the consumer is concerned.
That's my take on this whole thing - but it's very touchy and very complicated, so I'd tread lightly until more facts are in front of us.
Clara
Your friendly Knitter's Review publisher
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JeffreyDeneckeJr
New Pal
3 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2006 : 07:51:11 AM
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Dear Retailers and Consumers -
Please find below KFI's response to Cascade's recent mass emailing and proliferation of untruths. We did not want it to come to this - but our hand has been forced - so we must respond. If you have any questions - please feel free to email me. If you own a retail store or business and would like to receive a copy of the supporting lab reports (because I cannot figure out how to post them here since they are JPEG images) please email me a request and I will send them to you via email. It is a 3MB file.
Please understand that if I get flooded with emails - it may take me some time to reply to each one. Thank you for your kind attention.
Best Regards,
Jeffrey J. Denecke Jr.
Manager of Operations
KFI Inc.
July 20th, 2006
Dear Customer:
We are writing because we understand that a disgruntled competitor, Cascade – apparently upset because KFI’s Ella Rae Classic, a superior 4 ply 100% feltable wool with 220 yards per 100 Gram ball, has been taking market shares away from Cascade 220, its 100% wool yarn – is continuing to maliciously publish false and defamatory statements that Debbie Bliss’s Cashmerino yarn, which KFI distributes in the United States, does not contain cashmere.
In an effort to avoid embarrassment to Cascade and the industry at large, we sought to resolve the matter quietly and privately, by explaining the facts to Cascade and asking for a simple apology. Unfortunately, Cascade ignored our request and instead has further disseminated its false allegations. Accordingly, to protect the reputations of KFI, its suppliers, its designers and our industry as a whole, we have no choice but to publicly refute Cascade’s scurrilous charges and set the record straight once and for all.
First, please rest assured that Debbie Bliss’s Cashmerino yarn contains cashmere. The manufacturer, Filatura Pettinata VVG, has certified this to us in writing. The testing house we are now using – TFT Limited, a CMMI member that many U.S. and international companies use on a regular basis because of its excellent reputation – has confirmed that all six Debbie Bliss Cashmerino samples we furnished to date (ball stocks drawn at random from the warehouse) contain cashmere. And our suppliers had expert textile labs (more than one) in Europe analyze the Cashmerino products, conducting numerous and more extensive tests (on twice the number of fibers each time) than Cascade's lab had performed and found in all cases that the Cashmerino samples contained cashmere.
We even furnished two of these reports to Cascade, which Cascade apparently has chosen to ignore. It is also ignoring the fact that the yarn is a well-established product that has been produced and sold worldwide for five years.
Second, in sharp contrast, Cascade’s false allegations are based entirely on a single, free, preliminary test performed by KD Langley. We have been informed that KD Langley always scores lower than TFT on “blind tests” that CMMI members receive from time to time to check their accuracy.
Third, as we have repeatedly pointed out to Cascade, it is difficult to test accurately for cashmere content, which can result in “false negative” results – i.e., findings of no cashmere content where cashmere in fact is present. Specifically, fiber experts we have contacted all state that, when one uses a projection microscope to examine Iranian or Mongolian Cashmere that is blended with extra fine merino wool -- both of which have the same micron of approximately 18 / 19 -- there will be some fibers that can be identified as wool, some as cashmere and others that are “ indeterminate.” This makes the report on which Cascade has irresponsibly relied even more suspect.
Stated simply, it is virtually impossible to differentiate between Iranian cashmere and extra fine merino wool because the two fibers have virtually the same characteristics. It is therefore not surprising that a lab may mistake cashmere fibers for wool fibers in a particular sample and thereby erroneously conclude that there is no cashmere in the sample.
Fourth, Cascade’s assertion that it did not request the lab test is false. Cascade admitted to Yarn Market News and to Filatura Pettinata VVG’s principal weeks ago that it had asked for the test because it could not believe that KFI was able to sell a product containing cashmere at such a competitive price. In other words, despite its being in the market for years, Cascade did not become interested in Debbie Bliss’s Cashmerino until now, when KFI’s Ella Rae Classic yarn is taking market share from Cascade. And any suggestion that Cascade was not specifically targeting KFI is belied by the fact that Cascade sought no such tests of any of the numerous, competitively-priced cashmere blends on the market, such as:
Gedifra Cashmerino - 55% wool, 35% acrylic, and 10% superwash cashmere
Rowan's Cashsoft baby DK - 57% Wool, 33% Microfiber Acrylic, 10% cashmere
Rowan's Cashsoft 4 ply - 57% Wool, 33% Microfiber Acrylic, 10% cashmere
Rowan's Cashsoft Aran - 57% Wool, 33% Microfiber Acrylic, 10% cashmere
Rowan's Cashsoft DK - 57% Wool, 33% Microfiber Acrylic, 10% cashmere
Lion Cashmere Blend - by Lion Brand- 72% Merino Wool, 15% Nylon, 13% Cashmere
Knit One Purl Two - Ambrosia - 70% Baby Alpaca, 20% Silk, 10% Cashmere
Knit Picks – Ambrosia - 80% baby alpaca, 20% cashmere
Knit Picks - Panache - 40% baby alpaca, 20% cashmere, 20% silk, & 20% extrafine merino
Adrienne Vitadini – Trina -55% merino wool, 35% microfiber, and 10% cashmere
GGH – Taj-Mahal - 70% wool, 22% Silk, 8% Cashmere
JO SHARP SILKROAD DK TWEED - 85% Merino Wool, 10% Silk, 5% Cashmere
JO SHARP SILKROAD Aran TWEED - 85% Merino Wool, 10% Silk, 5% Cashmere
JO SHARP SILKROAD Aran - 85% Merino Wool, 10% Silk, 5% Cashmere
JO SHARP SILKROAD Ultra - 85% Merino Wool, 10% Silk, 5% Cashmere
Filatura Cervinia (Le Fibre Nobili). Taj Mahal - 8% Cashmere, 22% silk and 70% extrafine Merino
Classic Elite - Princess (40% merino, 28% viscose, 10% cashmere, 15% nylon, 7% angora
Classic Elite - Duchess - 40% wool, 28% rayon, 10% cashmere, 7% angora and 15% nylon
FILATURA DI GRIGNASCO - 50% New Wool Super 100s S.R., 42% Viscose, 8% Cashmere
Peruvian Collection Baby Cashmere - 60% Baby Alpaca, 30% Merino Wool, 10% Cashmere
Karabela Yarns - Chameleon - 70% Merino, 20% Silk, 10% cashmere
Karabela Yarns - Margrite - 80% Merino, 20% cashmere
Karabela Yarns - Margrite Bulky - 80% Merino, 20% cashmere
Anny Blatt -Cashmere Anny - 85% wool and 15% cashmere,
Nandian Cashmere - 40% wool, 28% rayon, 15% nylon, 10% cashmere and 7%
angora
We are sure that, while random tests of these blends may not always identify the cashmere content, our competitors' products in fact contain the requisite amounts of cashmere. Unlike Cascade, even if we had an ax to grind with our competitors, we would never consider publicly disseminating inherently unreliable information about their yarns falsely labeled as “fact.”
Fifth, According to Filatura Pettinata VVG’s principal, Cascade actually apologized to him for its initial publication of the erroneous lab report, stating that it respected Filatura Pettinata VVG and never would have gone public in the first place had it known that it was the supplier. Nevertheless, Cascade has continued to disseminate the information to KFI’s customers in an effort to damage our reputation.
***
If you have any questions about any of the above, please do not hesitate to contact us, as we are anxious to furnish you with whatever information you need to put your mind at ease about this matter. In the meantime, we hope you recognize Cascade’s charges for what they are – a desperate, “sour grapes” ploy by a defeated competitor. It is a disgrace that – rather than seek to compete on a level playing field – Cascade feels the need to resort to such dirty tricks, jeopardizing our entire industry’s reputation in the process.
Sincerely,
Sion Elalouf
KFI
Jeffrey J. Denecke Jr.
Manager of Operations
KFI
"He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as craftsmen, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers - all of them master craftsmen and designers."ť |
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gwtreece
Permanent Resident
USA
7250 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2006 : 08:32:38 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Clara
The reason you need to know if a yarn you're carrying is mis-labeled is because you, yourself, can be legally and financially responsible for any fines or suits brought on by the FTC. (The laws are extra tight on cashmere because the potential for abuse is so high.)
Clara
How do you abuse yarn?
Wanda
My Blog
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GFTC
Permanent Resident
USA
6331 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2006 : 08:48:05 AM
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What a fabulous resource list for cashmere blended yarns! Thanks, Sion.
P.S. So where's our old friend Shear?
P.S.#2 How do we feel about buying Iranian products such as the aforementioned Iranian cashmere?
GFTC of NYC
the pictures tell the story
www.flickr.com/photos/gftc_knits/ |
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mokey
Permanent Resident
15302 Posts |
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gwtreece
Permanent Resident
USA
7250 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2006 : 09:14:15 AM
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That makes better sense. I read it and was really not understanding how it was abused. A duh moment.
Wanda
My Blog
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Angelika
Chatty Knitter
USA
251 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2006 : 10:40:14 AM
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Actually, I'm a little embarrassed that this topic was posted to the general public. I think it would have been more professional to get this cleared up and solved before announcing it to the world.
Thank You !! [img]http://www.yarn-store.com/bowing-angelika.gif[/img] Angelika
www.yarn-store.com
On the Southern Oregon Coast ! |
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Clara
queen bee
USA
4063 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2006 : 10:43:48 AM
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My thanks to Jeffrey for joining and posting the KFI position on the issue. The more information we can have in front of us, the better.
Clara
Your friendly Knitter's Review publisher
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godlikeingoal
Warming Up
USA
69 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2006 : 11:56:56 AM
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It's also nice that (unlike his boss) he doesn't SHOUT! :)
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renee_knits
Seriously Hooked
702 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2006 : 12:26:25 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Angelika
Actually, I'm a little embarrassed that this topic was posted to the general public. I think it would have been more professional to get this cleared up and solved before announcing it to the world.
Thank You !! [img]http://www.yarn-store.com/bowing-angelika.gif[/img] Angelika
www.yarn-store.com
On the Southern Oregon Coast !
Perhaps you're right, but, as a consumer, I like having all the information.
Knitting IS real life! |
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Lavender Stripes
Gabber Extraordinaire
417 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2006 : 2:26:22 PM
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I agree, Angelika, and I would also like to say that both "sides" seem a bit low, sniping at each other as such. However, renee_knits, I also agree with you: I do like having all of the information in front of me. So personally, I'm glad, but "professionally", I'm appalled.
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v251/QueenLorien/USALaceTeam.jpg[/img] |
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knitabit33
Seriously Hooked
742 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2006 : 4:26:30 PM
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I think it would be good if some one has the Cascade letter and could
post it. Best to have the other letter before we rush to conclusions.
In reading the KFI letter, we have all watched enough CSI and OJ
cases to know that the evidence trail is paramount. KFI clearly
states that the skeins came from their warehouse.
Shouldn't the samples come from an independent source- like a shop?
Next, I did a search for Kenneth Langley. Wow. Check him out!!
I have trouble making links work. He is associated with U. Mass and
seems to be an authority on cashmere.
I think we all need to carefully get all the facts and eliminate
subjective/smear comments, focusing on substantiated facts and dates.
Karen
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purlwise
Chatty Knitter
259 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2006 : 5:38:47 PM
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I've made one sweater with cashmerino and won't make that mistake again. That yarn has too much "microfiber" stuff in it. Just doesn't feel comfortable when I wear it. Also, the yarn pills too much.
By they way, I'm not affiliated with either company; just an avid knitter.
Regards,
Melinda
www.purlwise.com |
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glccafar
Seriously Hooked
825 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2006 : 8:07:49 PM
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| This is so very odd. |
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The Irish Ewe
Permanent Resident
USA
1052 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2006 : 07:51:12 AM
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The original post WAS the letter from Cascade.
I just had a wonderful call from Cascade, by the way. The lady told me I wasn't a wonderful customer, because my website "listed a lot of yarn" that they had no record of me buying. And then she said I was "ignorant in posting online about" (something) I hung up on her. And I think I'm ending my support of Cascade.
Once again, Cascade - You send me an email about a yarn I don't carry, then called me names when I told you that you had no right to drag me into your fight with KFI. I guess my two $5000 orders weren't enough for you. Is this how you treat all your customers?
The Irish Ewe
Norway, Maine
http://www.TheIrishEwe.com |
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knottyknitter
Permanent Resident
USA
3702 Posts |
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godlikeingoal
Warming Up
USA
69 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2006 : 09:11:06 AM
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| I'm surprised to hear about how lousy Cascade is treating you, Irish. We've had nothing but the best, friendliest, supportive and honest/ethical service from them--from everyone at their HQ in Washington to their local sales rep. Quite the opposite of KFI. |
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Slipped Stitch
Warming Up
USA
96 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2006 : 10:30:40 AM
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Maybe something has slipped by me, but I just don't get it.
The Irish Ewe starts this thread with a letter received from a yarn company and complains that she does not want to be dragged into a fight between two yarn companies.
Then The Irish Ewe drags in us knitters.
Then the Irish Ewe complains because the writer of the letter says The Irish Ewe had no right in posting the letter ( which is TRUE! ).
Then The Irish Ewe complains to us knitters when she is brought up right about this.
My Grandmother had a phrase she would always use in circumstances like this: some child's mother is want of a good spanking. If Grandmother were reading this, she'd be ripping!
It's either something has entirely slipped past me or my brain has unravelled because I'm missing something here.
And, for sure, one thing that hasn't passed me by is The Irish Ewe has nothing better to do with her time than mind other people's business.
If you want to stay away from the wood stove so you don't get burnt, please don't complain you got burnt when you went near the woodstove.
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Lanea
Permanent Resident
USA
4850 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2006 : 10:49:50 AM
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Woah, woah, slow down, Slipped Stitch. Either you're reading a different opening email than I am, or you're being unfair.
The Irish Yew posted the letter because she was trying to figure out if a spoofer was spamming yarn shops. That is not the same thing as "dragging" knitters into the fighting between KFI and Cascade. She had a legitimate concern and she came to her friends with it, hoping that if someone was indeed phishing or sending out viruses, she could protect us.
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Spam? An email about Cascade and Debbie Bliss
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