Aid by Trade Foundation Appoints Artwell Group CEO Brian Yu to Board of Trustees
The Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) has appointed Brian Yu, Chief Executive Officer of the Artwell Group, to its Board of Trustees, strengthening the foundation’s leadership in promoting sustainable cotton and cashmere production.
As CEO, Brian Yu has led the Artwell Group’s growth into one of the world’s largest suppliers of responsibly produced cashmere knitwear. He brings more than two decades of experience in the global textile industry, with a strong focus on sustainability, innovation, animal welfare and supply chain transparency.
Brian Yu has been actively involved in advancing responsible cashmere production, co-authoring the Farm Animal Welfare Requirements Cashmere Goat standard under the International Cooperation Committee of Animal Welfare (ICCAW) in China. He has also supported the development and testing of traceability solutions for cashmere supply chains.
Traceability remains a core element of The Good Cashmere Standard® (GCS), one of AbTF’s flagship standards for responsibly produced cashmere. The programme uses the TextileGenesis platform to ensure end-to-end traceability of certified cashmere fibres.
Tina Stridde, Managing Director of the Aid by Trade Foundation, welcomed Brian Yu’s appointment, stating that his expertise in sustainability and innovation will help strengthen the foundation’s work in promoting responsible cotton and cashmere production worldwide.
Commenting on his appointment, Brian Yu said his decision to join the Board of Trustees reflects his commitment to advancing sustainability and responsibility across the textile industry. He added that collaboration can help improve transparency, empower communities and promote ethically produced textiles globally.
Before joining the Board of Trustees, Brian Yu served on the advisory board of The Good Cashmere Standard. Since 2018, he has led Artwell’s global operations, overseeing a workforce of more than 2,500 employees across Inner Mongolia, Eastern China, Hong Kong, Cambodia and Vietnam.
The appointment reinforces AbTF’s ongoing efforts to strengthen sustainable textile value chains through industry collaboration, responsible sourcing standards and enhanced traceability.
