What is Cashmere?

define

Cashmere is a luxuriant wool that many a fashion-conscious woman has dreamed of wearing against her skin. Its silken feel, feather-light weight, and appreciable status make it highly desirable.

Despite the glamour associated with cashmere, it hails from humble beginnings. Cashmere is the wool or fur of the Kashmir goat. Kashmir goats are primarily raised in Mongolia, but many are bred in Iran, Tibet, India and China. American herders have also joined the international cashmere production market in recent years.

Cashmere is harvested from the goats during their annual molting season through the shedding or the shearing of their down. In the frigid high desert climates where most of the goats are raised, the dense inner coat guards against harsh winter weather, but once seasons change, goats begin to lose the protective layer of down.

The finest cashmere comes from the underbelly and throat of the goats, but a lesser grade is also taken from the goats' legs and backs. Longer fibers from the belly and throat area make the wool especially soft and cause less "pilling" when the fibers are woven into garments such as sweaters, shawls, capes, dresses, and coats for both men and women. The shorter fibers from the backs and legs are heavier and less expensive, making it easier to afford a luxury garment. Cashmere comes naturally in white, gray and brown, but the wool is easily dyed.

Garments made of cashmere were once only available to royalty because the rarity of the wool increased its value. Napoleon is said to have popularized the use of cashmere as shawls or wraps when he gave his second wife, Empress Eugenie, seventeen of them.

In more recent years, Old-Hollywood glamour girls graced the silver screen, bringing cashmere to the hearts of people everywhere. The "original sweater girl," Lana Turner, created a phenomenon when she wore a tight cashmere sweater in a 1937 film called, They Won't Forget. Cashmere sweaters of all description soon became haute coutre; evening sweaters with heavily encrusted jewels and embroidery became popular during the 1940s, and the famed sweater set of best-dressed college coeds ruled the 50s. Avid collectors are now frantic to snatch up those fine examples of vintage cashmere sweaters.

Woven garments made of cashmere must be dry cleaned, but knitted articles may be hand washed. Home weavers and knitters cherish cashmere for its soft hand and practical warmth; cashmere wool is available for home projects at yarn shops or online via Internet craft and knitting sites.

The quality and feel of cashmere will leave you longing for more. Owning a garment made of cashmere is a fashion treat to be truly treasured--after all, it takes one little goat four years to produce enough wool to make just one cashmere sweater.

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12
I happen to raise cashmere goats, and the finest cashmere does not come from the belly! I don't know where this information keeps coming from, but the belly is where the goat lies down in the dirt, etc., and it gets matted and pretty much unusable. And yes, I do take very good care of my goats.
- anon50898
11
Can cashmere have an unpleasant smell? If it does, what is the cause? I just received a sweater online that is 10 percent cashmere and the odor actually makes me nauseated. Smells like a wet animal!
- anon43603
10
anon15160,

does this lady know that Cashmere is wool from the Kashmir goat, the finer cashmere is from the underside and neck area and does not pill, and the coarser is from the back, legs butux, it is not as soft as the under belly and pills easily. Talk to the catalog company where you bought the cashmere and ask if it is cashmere or cashmere mix., maybe the lady is just a disgruntled customer that likes to take things out on others ( i have them once is a while in the store where i work, all because they are in a bad mood and take it out on others). Do, contact ebay first and explain to them what the company said, and also explain that you were going on the description of the item that you had bought.

I wish i could wear cashmere, unfortunately i am allergic to wool, i tend to break out in hives and welts.

- anon22670
9
Very interesting...I've always wondered what's the difference between a $40 "cashmere" sweater and $400 one. I know that our goats (who produce a small amount of cashmere)would be hard-pressed to produce enough cashmere for a pair of infants' socks! (I've tried combing it off...the goats weren't amused.)

If you're wondering about the fiber content of your sweater, you can always tell the buyer to send a sample to a lab. It's usually pretty easy to distinguish fibers under a microscope. A local large-animal vet might even be able to help in this...or a college that has a camera affixed to a microscope.

- anon22451
8
what insects eat cashmere?
- anon20425
7
I agree cashmere is wonderful but has to be taken care of in a certain manner. I found good cashmere information online and after reading about it bought their cashmere red scarf and was blown away at how soft and heavenly it was! Sent it for Dry cleaning the first time and it came back like new second time I followed directions and hand washed and line dried and then lightly ironed it and it looks great.
- biancamoes
6
to anon13496, it depends on the quality of the yarn used, not the ply. The cheaper the yarn, the more pilling will occur. Cashmere made in Scotland is still the best there is and the least likely to pill, so ask where it was made.

to anon6897, it's the lava of the moths that eat the cashmere, not the actual insects.

to anon6363, no sorry, the finest cashmere yarn does indeed come from the stomach. The cheaper yarns come from the areas you are talking about, and are often not usable.

to anon5490, only if you wash it in either very hot or very cold water. Woven cashmere can only be dry cleaned.

- anon15606
5
i bought a sweater from a catalog that listed it was cashmere a few years ago- it was very expensive- over $200. not i just sold it on ebay and the lady is saying its made of wool. not cashmere. and she wants to open a dispute against me. any ideas? i listed it as cashmere like the catalog did. help!
- anon15160
4
I love cashmere sweaters but after they have been

washed or dry cleaned a few times they look awful.

What kind of cashmere sweater should I buy to prevent this. Most cashmere in the department stores say 2-ply.

- anon13496
3
what insect eats cashmere?
- anon6897
2
It's a misconception that the finest fibers are harvested from the neck and belly of the goat as these are generally the dirtiest part of the animal and most subject to collecting debris. The finest fibers are gathered from the saddle of the Cashmere goat; most of the cashmere comes off of the sides and back of the goat's body from the shoulder to the rump.
- anon6363
1
does cashmere shrink upon cleaning?
- anon5490

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Written by KN
Last Modified: 01 November 2009

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