Cashmere 101
Why is cashmere so special?
Sometimes referred to as "soft gold" because of its quality, rare raw material, and the extremely laborious process of turning it into a fabric, quality cashmere feels luxuriously soft, smooth, and silky. It also has advantages compared to other textiles:
- Extremely soft - The diameter of cashmere fibers is extremely small (approximately 300 microns). Cashmere is the softest of all yarns!
- Does not itch like wool - The density of fibres in cashmere is much greater than wool, which makes it feel silky against your skin.
- Keeps you very warm - Cashmere can be up to eight times warmer than sheep’s wool despite its light weight. It is the perfect material for maintaining your body temperature, keeping you warm but not hot.
- Light as a feather - Lighter than most other fabrics, it can keep you warm without adding bulk or weight like other materials.
- Durable and resilient - Cashmere is very resilient and can last decades with proper care.
- Keeps its shape - Quality cashmere does not shrink when washed correctly and retains its shape much better than wool over time.
Where does cashmere come from?
Cashmere comes from rare fibers in the undercoat of cashmere goats. The fibers of the warming undercoat must be separated from a coarser protective top coat during the spring season, a labor-intensive process that typically involves combing and sorting the hair by hand. These factors contribute to the relatively low global production rate of cashmere—approximately 6,500 metric tons of pure cashmere annually, as opposed to 2 million metric tons of sheep’s wool.
Why is it called cashmere?
The name cashmere comes from an old spelling of Kashmir, the region where its production and trade originated, possibly as early as the Mongolian empire in the 13th century.
What is the best way to care for and clean cashmere?
Unlike wool, cashmere improves and can become even softer and more luxurious overtime Learn more about how to properly care for cashmere.