What is Cashmere Fabric And Why Is It So Good?
In the recent past, you might have witnessed Cashmere in lavish gift shops or high-end fashion boutiques, at the fingertips of fascinated shoppers. But, what exactly is Cashmere? This question came into the spotlight after fabric became synonymous with luxury. At present, the soft and insulating material has emerged as the most valuable natural product in the fashion industry. The highlighting characteristic of this incredible material is its soft finish which is delicately derived in the form of silky fibers. It provides insulating warmth and doesn’t have the prickling quality of wool. This is the reason behind Cashmere being a coveted fabric.
What is Cashmere made of?
In simple words, Cashmere is derived from the soft fleecy and feathery underlayer of a goat’s coat. The extraction process involves the goats from Cashmere and Pashmina. The growth takes place in the winter season that is fuelled by the chilly air. The gold chilly air is directly related to the growth of, the colder it gets, the more it grows. These are meant to insulate and protect the goats from harsh climates. On the initiation of warm days, the coat is automatically shed and the collectors comb out the valuable product before any loss.
Before we move further, you need to know that the collection of cashmere sweaters fabric is only entertained from the two goat breeds, Cashmere and Pashmina. There is no specific herd from which the collection is done, it can be taken from any breed specified goat as long as the hairs are fine enough to make the cut, it should be under 19 microns. These goat breeds are found in nomadic herds across the world, mainly Iran, China, and Mongolia. The most suitable condition for cashmere growth is the large fluctuations in temperature. Due to the increased demand of Cashmere, the goat population in Mongolia inclined from 5 to 20 million in the period between 1990 and 2009.
Types of Cashmere
The type of Cashmere largely varies and depends on the environmental factors in which the goat breed survives. At the pinnacle of the Himalayas, goats grow very fine hair which is much better for the production of super soft Cashmere. The most luxurious and costliest Cashmere wool comes from this region, the fibers obtained are straight, smooth, and long. There are two major conditions that determine the fabric's quality, the length and thickness of the hair. The longer the hair, the better the fabric is.
Why is it so expensive?
There is no doubt that the Cashmere fabric is one of the most costliest materials used in the textile industry. The question is why? Well it has got an answer with two simple reasons, first, the reality of the raw material, and secondly, the complexity of the manufacturing process. The raw material required to create a Cashmere garment requires a year’s worth of fur from 2-3 goats. A single goat can produce around 200 g of Cashmere which isn’t enough. This is the reason why the material is expensive.
What is Cashmere used for?
As of now you must have understood that Cashmere is used in the textile industry. The material is used for the manufacturing of lightweight clothes like shawls, scarves, and summer jackets. It is particularly effective during the winter days for its heat retaining qualities. It will keep you warm and homey without being too bulky.
Origins & History
The origin of Cashmere took way back in the 13th century from the Kashmir valleys. It was between the 1500’s and the 1800’s when emperors from Iran & India used cashmere shawls in political proceedings and religious ceremonies. For the last four centuries Europe has also seen an increase in Cashmere production. The first trade was carried out in the 18th century when a Scottish manufacturer discovered the Cashmere shawls in India and imported them into Scotland. Since then it is used in the textile industry and over the years has acquired major popularity.
How to Tell if Your Cashmere is High Quality?
In general, the quality of the best cashmere sweaters is determined in terms of Cashmere fiber percentage the garment has. The higher the percentage, the higher the quality is. To retain its luxurious silky soft quality, the fabric is often spun with silk without being prone to excess pilling. Piling is done with 100% Cashmere garments. Another way of figuring out the quality is by looking for a tightly knitted product. It indicates two ply yarn, which means that the manufacturing of the product considered the use of two yarn pieces twisted together. This results in the production of stronger and warmer garments.
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