What Makes Cashmere So Unique?
Cashmere is a unique fabric that fetches a high price tag. It has some exceptional qualities that set garments made from cashmere apart from woollen or cotton clothing items. If you’ve ever wondered what is so special about cashmere and why it is more expensive, we have the answers for you.
Softness
One of the main qualities of cashmere is its softness; if you’ve never felt a cashmere jumper, you will be surprised at just how soft clothing made from cashmere can be. The fibres used to make cashmere are very long and thin; this gives them the soft qualities that many buyers are looking for in garments such as jumpers, scarves, and hats. Cashmere comes in a range of grades; Grade A cashmere is the highest grade of cashmere; the fibres are long and fine, resulting in the softest fabric. Clothing made from Grade A cashmere creates high-quality products that are more expensive than Grade B or Grade C cashmere. If you want to buy top-quality cashmere, look out for products advertised as Grade A. Grade B and Grade C cashmere can still be used to make lovely items; they just won’t be as soft and high quality as clothing made from Grade A cashmere.
Warming qualities
Cashmere is also known for its warmth properties; cashmere is made from fibres extracted from the fur of goats. Goats can live in extreme climates where temperatures can drop to minus 30 or minus 40 degrees celsius. Therefore, they need a coat that can keep them warm and sufficiently protected when the temperature drops and becomes more extreme. The fibres taken from their fur retain the insulating properties when used to make jumpers, hats or scarves. Cashmere is an excellent insulator for people who live in very cold climates.
Limited supply
Cashmere is a very special fabric because the supply is limited; there are very few goats compared to sheep reared for their fur. The fur can also only be extracted from the goats once a year; this means it takes quite a few goats to get enough fibres to make a single jumper from cashmere. The amount of fibres taken from each goat is limited; the goat needs to be left with enough fur for it to be able to survive in the harsh temperatures. The limited supply increases the price of any item made from cashmere fibres.
Processing cashmere
Processing cashmere is very time intensive and requires several different processes to manage the fibres. Cashmere is a natural and delicate material; caution needs to be taken when processing and dying the cashmere. Harsh chemicals or dyes can ruin the fabric; at every stage of the process, the cashmere needs to be checked to ensure it is still in good condition. The additional processing time and delicacies needed make buying a cashmere jumper much more expensive than purchasing a jumper made from wool or cotton.
Hand-crafted
Some cashmere fetches a very high price, these items have been handcrafted, and the fibres combed from the goats by hand. The process of hand combing goats can take a goat farmer up to two weeks to complete. This process protects the individual fibres and makes the best quality cashmere clothing. The alternative is to shear the goats to quickly remove all of their fur and minimise the time it takes. Shearing goats can also produce great quality fabrics that are less expensive compared to the hand-crafted, traditional method.
Cheaper cashmere
If you look hard enough, you can find cheap cashmere on the market. There are also some convincing cashmere replicas available to buy. If the product is cheaper than it should be and a known brand isn’t selling it with defects or as part of a sale, it's likely that it could be a fake product. Cheaper genuine cashmere products may be blended with other fibres and only contain a very small percentage of cashmere.
Cashmere is an expensive fibre; this is due to the qualities it offers. Cashmere is very warm, comfortable and incredibly soft; if you want to buy a cashmere item on a budget, look for a lower grade cashmere or a smaller item that includes cashmere within the blend.
Resources:
Womens Cashmere Jumper - Glitch
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