Not all Cashmere is equal !!
The term 'cashmere' has been used in various terms, but here are the facts:
- What is cashmere?
To qualify as cashmere, this rare and expensive fiber must be made from goat hair whose diameter is less than 19.5 microns and which includes a proportion of down 30% greater than that of the hair. .
This is the secret of the cashmere appeal.
- Where does cashmere fiber come from?
Cashmere fiber comes from the Capra Hisca breed of goat which lives mainly in the highlands of Mongolia.
This breed of goat produces the best cashmere in the world since to face the freezing cold which can reach -40°C during the winter, under its long and thick hair, a precious down has developed which insulates it from the cold, wind and rain.
This natural protection molts in spring when the sunny days arrive.
Respecting the rhythm of the seasons, Mongolian shepherds carefully collect the hair from Live Goats, using ancestral brushing methods dating back over 200 years, these fibers which will subsequently become the raw material.
- Cashmere loves water
As surprising as it may seem, cashmere loves water.
The Mongols say that the more you wash cashmere, the more beautiful it becomes.
When it gets wet, the fiber contracts, then returns to its place while drying like a little rebirth that renews it.
This mechanism even helps eliminate pilling and keep the garment supple, even increasingly soft.
Wash your cashmere clothes as often as possible, following the washing advice in our "cashmere care" section on our site.
- Cashmere is hypoallergenic
Cashmere does not contain lanolin, which makes it hypoallergenic.
It does not itch and can be worn next to the skin. It is the ideal material for sensitive skin.
- The origin of the word cashmere
Originally, cashmere comes from a very fine Indian fabric woven with the deep layer of hair from goats from Kashmir or Tibet, known to be wild and living at altitude, particularly around Kashmir at the foot of the Himalayas.
- The basic colors of cashmere
Cashmere only has 3 colors: white, beige and dark brown.
We carefully select the finest, longest and whitest fibers to bring you truly soft cashmere with intense colors and long-lasting quality.
- 2 Goats for each Sweater
A goat's down only produces around 100 grams of usable cashmere per year, so you need 2 goats to make a basic two-thread cashmere sweater.
Cashmere production is limited to between 7,000 and 10,000 tonnes per year, approximately 0.5% of that of world wool.
In addition, like any agricultural raw material, the price of cashmere varies from one year to the next depending on the quality and quantity of the harvest.
Cashmere therefore remains rare and expensive because it is a limited natural material.
- Cashmere is finer than our hair
Cashmere fiber is six times finer than our hair. This is why cashmere is incredibly soft.
- How to recognize good quality cashmere?
- Feel the cashmere to see if it is too soft and fluffy. It should soften and soften over time.
- Also try to examine its surface as fuzz at the beginning may mean the yarn was spun from shorter, less strong fibers.
- Likewise, move your hand over it and see if the fibers start to curl: this could be due to a high percentage of short fibers which will likely accumulate more.
- Try stretching some of the fabric slightly and see if it springs back into shape easily.