Meet The Executive Director Of GOBI Cashmere, Amarsaikhan Baatarsaikhan

How would you define the style of your new collection and how do they differ from other well-known cashmere luxury brands?

Amarsaikhan Baatarsaikhan: Our “GOBI Organic” collection uses no dyes or colouring chemicals, this allows us to save on average 20% more water, electricity & energy while manufacturing these products because skipping the dyeing process allows us to be more sustainable and responsible. Moreover, the organic collection allows us to highlight the 4 natural and original colours of Mongolian cashmere, the colours are the results and byproduct of our preservation of traditional Nomadic herder lifestyles, because, without the herders & their goats, we would not have our organic collection. 

What skills according to you are necessary for a successful entrepreneur?

Amarsaikhan Baatarsaikhan: I believe that the following is necessary to be a successful entrepreneur 

1. Vision & ambition: a certain dream and desire to accomplish something, my wish at Gobi is for us to make cashmere a lifestyle, by making high-quality, responsible cashmere more accessible to everyone who wants it. 
2. Teamwork & leadership: I believe that “none of us is smarter than all of us combined”, hence bringing in great people and building a culture where everyone is able to thrive and work towards a common goal. 
3. Hard work: can’t do anything without hard work and effort, so this is a must. 
4. Growth & improvement: you want to be able to answer a bold “yes” to the question “are you better today than you were yesterday”. No matter how big or small, did you improve today? 
5. Consistent excellence: “Excellence is therefore not an act, but a habit” - Aristotle, how can we show excellence in every word, action and behaviour?

Do you have any favourites in your cashmere collection?

 Amarsaikhan Baatarsaikhan: I have my favourites for each season, 

• Winter: I love warm thick socks, big jumpers and cardigans that keep me warm and jolly while working from home or out at a local market. 
• Summer: I love our blankets for summer naps or picnics, our thin polos are great for summer, but I always, always keep 1 sweater in my car if it gets colder at night when I’m out and about through the city.
• Spring & fall: I love our coats, the double-breasted is the one for me. 

Describe a day in the life of a master fashion designer when working on your new collection.

Amarsaikhan Baatarsaikhan: Our fashion designer's day is filled with creativity, inspiration, and excitement! Starting the morning with a cup of coffee, they start sketching new designs, selecting colours and choosing fabrics -all while listening to their favourite music. After that, they review their work with the pattern makers to ensure quality and fit. As the day winds down, they begin to look beyond the new collection and start envisioning their next collection, allowing for an evening of planning and reflection. In this field, people never stop thinking about new things.

What does your schedule look like?

Amarsaikhan Baatarsaikhan: Work is 24/7 for me, and I love it. I like to divide my work into 2 parts.

1. Focused work: where I’m in the office having talks and discussions with my colleagues and team, preparing files and presentations with clear goals and agendas. I like to have this done in the morning and afternoon from 7 AM until 4 PM. 
2. Flexible work: this is where I like to let loose and let my creativity run free without any objective, hence, I found that the following activities create a friendly environment to be more creative; reading a book, going to a museum and gallery, meeting different people from different fields and areas, exercising and hiking, meditating and just doing nothing, having a nice drink (tea/coffee/beer) while relaxing. 

All creative projects have their challenges. What was your biggest challenge working on your own business?

Amarsaikhan Baatarsaikhan: Getting into the head of our customers (international) was and still continues to be our biggest challenge. Most of our employees are based in Mongolia, which possess an issue when it comes to understanding our customers, their behaviour, mentality, and attitude towards cashmere and our brand.

Amarsaikhan, how has the digital age influenced your business?

Amarsaikhan Baatarsaikhan: The digital age has opened a door for us to make our vision of making cashmere a lifestyle a reality. The reason is, in 2016 we started our global expansion to get one step closer to our customers around the world, however, we did so through traditional brick and mortar, which meant that the process was really slow and time-consuming. In 2019 however, we shifted our strategy to e-commerce and online stores, which made our products 1 click away from all of our potential customers worldwide.

Who were the designers that spoke to you the most at that time?

Amarsaikhan Baatarsaikhan: The designers who spoke to me the most were those who demonstrated the power of creative thinking and innovation—creatives who showed a genuine passion for their craft and had the drive to push the boundaries of what was possible. They inspired me to think more deeply about the design process and continue striving for excellence in my work.

Picture Credits: PR