Material Cashmere
Cashmere is one of the world’s finest fibres, which also makes it one of the softest, lightest and most comfortable materials to wear. Knitted cashmere is known for its distinct, silky texture and lightweight warmth. Limited supplies and the special processing that is required to harvest and spin the delicate wool make high-grade cashmere a luxurious material. But properly cared for, the garments can last for decades – and will even become softer with time.
material Cashmere
Material Cashmere
Cashmere is one of the world’s finest fibres, which also makes it one of the softest, lightest and most comfortable materials to wear. Knitted cashmere is known for its distinct, silky texture and lightweight warmth. The fibres have a natural crimp which results in small pockets of air inside the yarn when it is being spun; this ‘loft’ allows garments made from cashmere to provide warmth without weight. A thin waxy coating on the fibre surface gives the material a smooth, lustrous quality.
Also known as pashmina (its Persian name), cashmere is made from the downy undercoat of Kashmir goats living in the mountainous regions of Central Asia; almost all cashmere used for garment making is sourced from pastures in Tibet and Mongolia. The fine down hair protects the animals from extreme cold and wet conditions during winter but is naturally shed in spring when the weather is milder. The down is harvested once a year during the moulting season, by combing the wool by hand.
Cashmere is naturally white, grey and pale brown but can be dyed any colour. Limited supplies and the special processing that is required to harvest and spin the delicate wool make high-grade cashmere a luxurious material. But properly cared for, the garments can last for decades – and will even become softer with time.