How can one cashmere sweater cost $50 and another $5,000 when both tags claim the product is “100% cashmere”, There’s a reason for this, and it goes well beyond a designer label or the quality of the fit—the difference is really in the quality of the wool itself, even though technically both sweaters are made of the good stuff.
So how much is quality cashmere really worth, and what can you do to make sure you’re getting a good value? your money, Inspired by this twitter thread by mensure author derek cowHere’s what you need to know before you go about it buy a spec Cashmere sweaters this winter.
Why is cashmere so expensive in the first place?
Sure, cashmere is awfully soft, but does the price creep into the thousands? The answer is simple: True cashmere is rare and in high demand. While wool comes from sheep, cashmere specifically comes from cashmere goats. These goats mostly come from remote The region extending from northern China to Mongolia. as Raja Fashion Turns out, it takes wool Three to four goats to make one coatwhereas just a sheep produces enough wool for several sweaters.
How to identify quality cashmere knits?
overproduction of cashmere hurts and exploits animals human labor involved– leads to degradation of the garment Quality. With so much cheap cashmere crowding the market, it is becoming increasingly difficult for confused consumers to differentiate between the quality of different knits. And as more shoppers become accustomed to lower quality products, fake “cashmere blends” and outright scams abound.
g/o media can get commission
According to lands End, The Wool Products Labeling Act makes it an offense to falsely label cashmere if it is not legal. Still, not all cashmere is created equal. Look for “grade” indicating cashmere quality; The longer and thinner the fibers, the finer the product. For example, Grade A cashmere can be as thin as 14 microns, with Grade C being about 30 microns thick. Width per cashmere hair.
If you’re shopping for cashmere and the grade isn’t labeled, you can still test the quality of the product yourself. Here’s How to Evaluate Cashmere (via Tips) inside hook,
- TouchAlthough cashmere is famously soft, be careful if it feels very Soft. Some manufacturers intentionally over-wash their garments to achieve this softness, which results in a reduced product durability.
- Spread, Slow Stretch the cashmere to see how well it holds its shape—something that good cashmere can do well.
- pilling: Rub the sweater between your fingers to test for pilling (small, firm balls of lint that form on the surface). If the pilling or shedding starts right away, you know it’s A low quality product.
HHow much does quality cashmere cost these days?
Taking into account the quantity of animal hair and labor used, the quality of yarn and the quality of finishing, The full retail price of a good quality cashmere knit should be at least $400, To People,
While it’s expensive for most, Guy makes a simple case for payment Quality Cashmere: TThat product will last longer. It’s better for your wallet in the long runAnd Also potentially better for the environment, as with all things fast fashionEncouraging the overproduction of cheap products puts pressure on natural resources and exploits living labor to make those products so cheaply, If you go for that $50 or $100 “cashmere” sweater from ASOS, the inferior quality of the product will reveal itself over time, and you’ll be wasting money and resources when you inevitably have to replace it by Christmas 2024. would be required,
If you (obviously) don’t want to pay $400 for a cashmere sweater, consider buying a knit from a naturally cheaper yarn like Shetland. You can also buy second hand from old sellers by double checking the validity of the brands.
At the end of the day, cashmere is a high-end luxury, and cheap cashmere is a false luxury—one that hurts the environment and wastes your money.