The Cashmere Guide
This expert's guide explains why cashmere is considered one of the world's most luxurious natural fibres, and how to identify quality. While cashmere is often associated with softness, its value also lies in origin, fibre quality, and craftsmanship.
What is Cashmere?
Cashmere is a luxurious and highly coveted natural fibre known for its softness and warmth. Cashmere comes from the soft undercoat of a goat's winter fur. It grows to shield goats from the extreme cold found in high altitude areas, including the Himalayas, Mongolia, and Tibet. In spring, this fleece is hand-combed and collected by herding communities who have worked with these animals for generations.
Why is cashmere expensive?
A single goat produces only 75-100 grams of usable cashmere wool each year. It takes the fleece of four to eight goats to produce one cashmere robe.
Only a fraction of fleece is fine and soft enough to be used as premium, high-grade cashmere. The rest is removed during sorting and dehairing.
Cashmere wool is expensive because of the low yield from each goat and the labour-intensive process at every stage. This includes combing, sorting and washing, dehairing, dyeing and carding, spinning and finally knitting or weaving the cashmere wool into a garment.
How to Tell Cashmere Quality
Cashmere quality is determined by two factors: fibre fineness and fibre length.
Fine fibres contribute to softness. Fibre length determines the structure of the yarn, how it responds to friction, and how it performs over time.
Longer fibres are best because they create a stronger yarn when spun. They twist together more securely, resulting in a durable garment that pills less, retains its shape and wears well season after season.
In contrast, short fibres do not bind together as securely when spun into yarn. They are more likely to work their way to the surface of the garment, causing excessive pilling, and the garment is unlikely to last beyond a season.
These characteristics also determine how cashmere is graded. The finest fibres with the longest lengths are considered the highest quality and are known as Grade A cashmere.
Why Grade A Cashmere Matters?
At Kasmiri, we use only Grade A cashmere, the finest available. This refers to fibres with diameters under 14-15 microns and longer fibre lengths.
Lower-grade cashmere has short fibres, which create weaker yarns that pill continuously as loose ends work their way to the surface.
Some initial pilling is normal, even in Grade A cashmere, as residual loose fibres settle during early wear. This typically reduces over time. Persistent pilling, however, is often a sign of lower-grade fibre and weaker yarn construction.
Ethical Sourcing of Cashmere
The finest fibres come from high-altitude regions where extreme climates drive natural adaptation. Mongolia, Tibet, and Northern China are established sources of consistent Grade A fibre.
Kasmiri works with mills such as Consinee Group to ensure consistent Grade A fibre quality yarn from these regions. Consinee manages the entire process from raw yarn to dehairing, carding, dyeing and spinning, ensuring optimum quality control.
Alongside this, we source smaller volumes of cashmere from the Upper Mustang region of Nepal. Here, the Chyangra goats produce exceptionally fine cashmere in a highly isolated environment. Fibre from this region is highly limited in volume and closer to its natural state.
Sourcing Cashmere: Why Traceability Matters
At Kasmiri, we work with established mills such as Consinee Group, one of the world’s leading vertically integrated cashmere producers. This means they control the process from raw fibre through to finished yarn, allowing for greater consistency and quality control.
Consinee is aligned with recognised industry standards that support quality, animal welfare and environmental responsibility and ensure herding communities are respected.
Alongside mill industry standards, Kasmiri prioritises origin-specific sourcing wherever possible. This includes our Chyangra Pashmina, which is sourced exclusively from Upper Mustang in Nepal, a single-origin supply chain from high-altitude Himalayan herding communities. The fibre is collected and authenticated at the origin before entering production.
Supporting herding communities in Nepal who collect this rare fibre is a natural extension of Kasmiri's values. By sourcing authentic Chyangra Pashmina, we help sustain traditional livelihoods, preserve generational craftsmanship, and maintain a meaningful connection between the fibre, the makers, and the region it comes from.
Craftsmanship
How Kasmiri cashmere is made
At Kasmiri, we work across woven, knitted, and age-old techniques, choosing the construction that best suits how each cashmere robe and scarf is meant to be worn. Every piece is made for lasting quality.
Woven Construction
Woven cashmere shawls, scarves, and throws are produced on traditional handlooms in Nepal. The fabric is formed through the interlacing of warp and weft threads. This creates a densely woven garment that remains robust for a long time.
An expertly crafted weave will feel firm, with an even texture and consistent colour. It should be free from irregular thinning or gaps. To assess this, hold the garment up to the light and observe the fabric density throughout. It should appear uniform, without visible inconsistencies in structure or weave.
Knitted Construction
Knitted cashmere robes and travel wraps are developed using a high-gauge construction. This higher stitch density creates a tighter knit with improved warmth and a luxurious drape, and it's made to last season after season.
Lower-gauge knits may feel softer initially but lack the same structural stability over time.
In cashmere knitwear, the stitch should appear uniform and closely set with a surface that holds its shape when handled and returns naturally after stretching.
Hand-Felting and Finishing
For an artisanal nuance, some of the Kasmiri cashmere woven and knitted scarves and wraps are individually hand-felted. This process compresses and interlocks the fibres, making it resistant to pilling, while creating an ethereal texture.
Discover Kasmiri's Weaving and Dyeing Mastery
The Benefits of Cashmere
Wearing cashmere is about how it makes you feel. The softness, the lightweight warmth, and the quiet luxury make you feel loved.
Unmatched Softness
Cashmere is known for its exceptional softness. Its fine fibres create a smooth. lightweight feel that is gentle on the skin. For many people, it's a softer alternative to traditional wool, especially for those with sensitive skin.
Superior Warmth
Cashmere is celebrated for its exceptional warmth and lightness. Its fibres have a hollow structure that traps warm air in tiny pockets, providing insulation without unnecessary bulk. Often said to be up to eight times warmer than sheep's wool, cashmere remains remarkably lightweight, making it ideal for travel and layering through the seasons.
Breathable and Moisture-Wicking
Cashmere naturally wicks moisture and helps regulate body temperature. Its fibres can absorb up to 30% of their weight in moisture without feeling damp, then release it gradually away from the body, keeping you comfortable across changing temperatures.
Naturally Fresh
Cashmere naturally resists odour-causing bacteria, meaning it requires less frequent washing than many other fibres. This not only makes it easier to care for but also helps maintain the garment over time. It's one of the reasons high-quality cashmere can last for decades when properly maintained.
Long Lasting
Despite the fine and delicate appearance, cashmere fibres have remarkable strength. They can be bent thousands of times without breaking, which is why well-made cashmere garments can last for years, even generations, when properly cared for.
For those who value longevity and understated luxury, it remains a considered investment.
Discover more Benefits of Cashmere
How to care for cashmere
Cashmere requires proper care to maintain the quality and longevity of cashmere scarves, robes, and throws.
Here are some tips for caring for your cashmere at home.
1. Airing cashmere
In most cases, cashmere only requires gentle airing between wears.
2. Hand-wash your cashmere garments
When washing is needed, do it sparingly and with care. Hand-wash in cool water with a specifically formulated cashmere wash or a very gentle detergent.
3. Dry Flat
Lay your cashmere on a clean towel and allow it to air dry away from direct heat.
4. Use a Cashmere Comb
Use a cashmere comb to remove any pills that may form. Gently comb in short strokes in the direction of the knit to restore a smooth finish.
5. Storing your cashmere garments
When storing your garments, fold them and place them in a breathable bag or box. Place in a dark, cool drawer. To protect your cashmere from moths, consider using cedar balls or lavender sachets in your storage area. Ensure you wash your cashmere before storing it away for the season. Moths love unwashed cashmere because it contains body oil residues.
6. Invisible mending
If your cashmere is caught and develops a small hole or has been affected by moths, consider invisible mending. This technique extends the life of your cashmere by carefully restoring small areas of wear so the piece can be worn again and look like new.
By following these simple care tips, your cashmere garments will remain beautiful and long-lasting.
For more detailed guidance on washing, storage, and our proprietary Kasmiri Gentle Wash, see our full care guide.