All you need to know about Cashmere sweaters and Cashmere fabric

Cashmere wool is a prized variety of wool that was, once upon a time indigenous to the valleys of the mighty Himalayas. Today it is one item of clothing that every fashionista with a reputation needs to have in her wardrobe. Cashmere has a timeless value and is also considered a family heirloom in some parts of the globe. Read on to know more about this amazingly soft yet strong fabric with a timeless feel.

 

The Cashmere fabric gets its name from the old British name for Kashmir Valley. Legends say that in the 14^th century a Persian traveller reached the valley of Kashmir or Cashmere as it was known then, where he came across the indigenous Kashmiri goat that had a double fleece. He took back with him this unique variety of wool with him and since then the name struck. The wool was hugely popular and soon every region tried experimenting with their indigenous breed of goats with double fleece.

The fabric is obtained from the similarly named varieties of goat called the Cashmere goat or Capra Hircus Laniger. Though they are a distinct sub-species the Cashmere goat is not a single name- it is a collective name for a variety of goats that are double fleeced or have two layers of fleece. The outer layer is coarse and is called guard hair whereas the inner layer is very fine and soft which is the source for the soft wool. The inner soft under coat is separated from the coarse layer by a process called de-hairing and this occurs mostly during the moulting season which is the spring season. During this time, the goats naturally discard their wool which they had accumulated for the winter.

Cashmere wool is known for its lightness and that comes from the fine undercoat of the goat. Not only is it smooth and light it is also offers protection against chilly winds and cold.

Cashmere sweaters, etc have traditionally been an expensive indulgence. The reason isn’t only the rarity of the wool but also the processing that takes a really long time and several hours of labour. It takes four years for a single cashmere goat to produce enough wool that will make one sweater. Therefore manual harvesting becomes the only way in which the demands for cashmere can be met. But with manual harvesting there cannot be a 100% guarantee on the quality of the cashmere as the coarse hair remains intertwined with the finer wool. It takes more man-hours to separate them and that automatically adds on to the price of the cashmere.

Once the raw material is ready it is spun and then the required item is made. In recent times China has emerged as the single largest supplier of cashmere wool accounting for almost 50% of the total share.

The quality of your brand new cashmere sweater will depend on two things- the quality of the wool and the manufacturer’s credentials. These days the quality of the wool is not a matter of concern due to stricter laws on cashmere quality so the only thing to look for is the manufacturer’s credentials. Make sure that the manufacturer is European as they are the global leaders in cashmere garment manufacturing. For best results go for Scottish or Italian manufacturers- these have been the traditional centres for cashmere manufacture and have a centuries old tradition.

Before you buy good cashmere wool and knitwear like Poncho, Socks, Wrap, Legwarmers, Robe, V Neck sweater, Snood make sure you check for authenticity and you will find the best at catherinerobinsoncashmere.com