However other regions such as Europe and America have also developed their own cashmere industries. Those goats have a two-layered coat: the rough and coarse outer layer. It is meant to protect them from the elements and is used to create brushes and in other similar applications. The fine undercoat, consisting of dense, soft, and thin hair is used to create fabrics. This undercoat gives Kashmir wool its unique characteristics.
Cashmere is the king of the fiber and treasure, but what are the advantages or disadvantages of it? And now we know this cloth is expensive and for good reasons.
Now let talk about the types of it. The longer each hair, the better the fabric will be in terms of pilling and achieving the fluffy quality that we love so much. Good Kashmir products that are well made are wonderful and superb.
You cannot replace the softness, warmth, and cuddliness of cashmere. Updated on May 11, Cashmere is a type of wool that comes from goats specially bred for their soft undercoat, from which the cashmere fibers are made. The material comes from Cashmere goats and Pashmina goats, and is typically produced in Central Asia, however other regions such as Europe and America have also developed their own cashmere industries.
Cashmere producing goats have a two-layered coat: the rough and coarse outer layer is meant to protect them from the elements, and is used to create brushes and in other similar applications. The fine undercoat, consisting of dense, soft and thin hair is used to create fabrics. It is this undercoat that gives cashmere wool its unique characteristics. Pictured left: Cashmere yarn and the raw cashmere fibers from which it is made; right: a Pashmina cashmere goat, revered for the quality of its coat.
Cashmere is known for its incredibly soft and warm yet lightweight and breathable qualities, making it a must-have fabric for any fall and winter closet.
Higher grade cashmere is also very durable and elastic so it holds its shape well over time, allowing the wearer to enjoy its high quality and warmth for years to come. However, these qualities along with the complicated, time and labor intensive cashmere production methods make the material very expensive.
It is normal to see cashmere sweaters in luxury designer retail stores priced at several hundred, even a thousand dollars. Prices vary on the type of cashmere fabric, as well as the quality of construction. Pictured above: close up pictures of finely woven cashmere fibers.
Absolutely: there are different grades of cashmere that directly reflect upon its quality. These grades can be broken down into three: A, B and C. Grade C cashmere is the lowest quality, measuring around 30 microns width per cashmere hair. Grade B cashmere is intermediate, around microns width per hair. Grade A cashmere is the finest. The thinner the cashmere, the finer the construction and the higher quality the final sweater or cardigan product.
Different regions also have varying production methods, which cause their respective cashmere products to vary. While China and Mongolia lead the cashmere production process in terms of numbers, it is well known that the finest cashmere is produced by local mountain dwelling communities in the Kashmir region of India.
It is believed that the harsher winter conditions and diet of the Kashmir goats causes them to grow finer, denser undercoats, which provide the highest quality raw material for cashmere sweaters, shawls and cardigans.
Due to limited, handmade production, these are of course very, very expensive. Many companies produce what is called "cashmere blends", where they mix the cashmere fibers with cheaper, lower quality wools or even nylons. These blends lack all of the unique qualities that cashmere is known for.
Ply refers to the number of cashmere threads that are twisted together to create the yarn strands. Hold the cashmere item at eye level and look across the surface.
A small amount of fluffiness, between mm indicates longer hairs were used which means less pilling will happen. If more fluffy than that, then shorter hairs have been used which can increase softness but also means the item will pill more and wear out quicker. It feels soft and offers great insulation keeping you warm in winter and cool in spring. Cashmere becomes softer with age and rarely pills after being worn and washed a few times.
Cashmere should last a lifetime. A blend will combine cashmere with wool, silk or synthetic fibers. These cheaper fibers lower the price. Additionally, blends are often made with lower quality cashmere that is made of thicker and shorter cashmere hairs. If it is a blend, by law it must state the percentages of yarn on the label e. Two twisted threads are referred to as 2-ply, and three twisted threads are referred to as 3-ply etc. Since cashmere is a fine hair, it benefits from the increased strength in the twisted thread.
Look for items that are 2-ply or higher, as 1-ply cashmere is less durable and is more likely to develop holes. Higher plies such as 4-ply add additional weight and warmth, but do not indicate additional quality.
It is a measure of how tightly the item is knitted. Gauge refers to the number of stitches and rows per inch. The higher the gauge number, the tighter the knit and the more cashmere yarn that is being used. With gauge there are 12 stitches or rows of yarn in one inch of knitted cashmere, so the cashmere is relatively dense.
With 7-gauge there are 7 stitches or rows per inch, so the cashmere has a more open or mesh like look and is more light-weight than an item knitted in 12 gauge if the same yarn is used. You should now be in a position to identify cashmere quality when purchasing your next cashmere item.
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