Cashmere

Cashmere is one of the world’s most luxurious fabrics, and is often referred to as “the king of fibers”.  Although Cashmere is already one of the softest materials we have today, it actually becomes softer the more it is worn, making it a very desirable purchase. However, it is also one of the most expensive fabrics one could buy.

Cashmere comes from the fine undercoat of the Kashmir goat. These goats are most commonly found in China, but can also be found in Tibet, Iran, India, and most recently here in the United States. Bringing in 10,000 metric tons of raw cashmere per year, China is clearly the highest source for the fiber. Cashmere is harvested between the months of March and May, when the goats begin to shed their winter coats. The coat must then be separated, the coarse top coat apart from the soft undercoat. This process is another factor as to why cashmere is so expensive. It is a very time consuming task, and calls for a lot of manual labor.

Due to its soft texture, production of warmth, and light weight, cashmere is a very desirable cloth. We find cashmere in top end sweaters, scarves, gloves, shawls, and many other clothing items. The fiber is also used in many household items such as blankets, pillows, throws, and bedding. A long time ago, cashmere was only used by royalty because of its value and rarity. It takes a goat four whole years to produce enough cashmere to produce one sweater!

There are also different types of cashmere depending on the specific fiber. Cashmere fibers can differ in length, width, color, and purity. Grade a cashmere is the thinnest fiber, around 14 millionths of a meter, however the fiber can get as thick as 24 millionths. The length of a grade A fiber is usually between 34 and 36 millimeters. White cashmere fibers are the most expensive, although cashmere is many shades from white to a deeper brown. Grade A cashmere is also pure. Sometimes cashmere can be contaminated by other fibers through processing, or even intentionally to decrease the price.

Cashmere also comes in a variety of yarn types. There is Cashmere yarn, which is what most designers prefer due to its natural colors, softness, and warmth. There is also Cashmere tweed yarn. This yarn is 90 percent cashmere and 10 percent silk and is used for more lavish sweaters and scarves. Then there is cashmere canapé yarn, which is a blend of cashmere and cotton. Other types of cashmere yarn include cashmere 5 yarn and cashmere merino silk DK yarn.

Overall, Cashmere is a wonderful fiber for producing “luxury” items of fabric. It is very soft, warm, and light weight, which makes it very practical and desirable for the human race. Even though it is known as “the king of fibers” and was once only used by royalty, Cashmere is now much more available to everyone. It is still not extremely cheap, but many would say that the benefits are well worth the cost.