What is Cashmere?
Cashmere is the lush, delightful wool shorn from a cashmere goat. This soft, downy material gets its name from Kashmir, the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Cashmere has a soft and warm nature, but it is extremely light Any breed of goat that produces cashmere wool, is called a cashmere goat. Clothing made from cashmere is soft, luxurious and resilient. Known as the Yarn of the Kings, cashmere is the worlds finest and most luxurious fiber. It is soft, warm, and hard-wearing. Garments woven from this material are very soft and lightweight but extremely warm and strong. China is the largest maker of cashmere, producing a whopping 10,000 tons annually.
Cashmere is fine in texture, very strong, light, and as soft as cotton. It originated in the Western region of India in the 11th century, and was used primarily to make woven shawls. By the late 18th century, enterprising traders were importing goat down from Tibet. By the early 19th century, cashmere was a burgeoning industry
Sweaters made out of cashmere have been a popular piece of clothing for many decades. Cashmere socks have recently become popular. Cashmere scarves, sweaters, gloves are also in great demand.
Today, cashmere is used to produce sweaters, scarves, socks, and many other items of apparel.
When you buy cashmere:
Look at the tension in the knitting: gently stretch a small part of the fabric. If the quality is good it should return quickly to shape and not leave a mark. The best cashmere has a density to it. Hold it up to the light with your hand behind it. If you can see your hand clearly, the material is of poor quality.
Look at the surface of the fabric. The fluffier it seems the more it will unravel, as it is probably made from shorter hairs. Clothing made of cashmere can be purchased at many high-end fashion stores such as Macy’s, Gimbals, and Neiman Marcus. Some retailers offer discounts a few weeks before the end of the season.