Cashmere sweaters scarves epitomize timeless luxury, celebrated for their incredibly soft texture, luxurious feel, and exceptional ability to retain warmth and durability in harsh cold weather. Yet, the steep price of this luxury material stems from a combination of natural scarcity, labor-intensive craftsmanship, and unique material properties. Let’s explore the factors that make cashmere one of the most coveted fibers in the world.
History of Cashmere
6,000 years ago in the Anatolian Peninsula, people began to use sheep's hair to keep warm, but they mostly used wool and did not know how to obtain precious goat cashmere.
In the 15th and 16th centuries, herders in Kashmir, India, separated cashmere from wool to create cashmere shawls. This is how cashmere got its name, which is still used today.
In the mid-19th century, the British transported cashmere from Kashmir to Britain for processing, marking the beginning of the cashmere processing industry.
In the 1870s, Scottish manufacturers enhanced the method of combing cashmere. This breakthrough shifted the center of cashmere production to Scotland and marked the beginning of cashmere textiles.
In 1920, the first cashmere sweater was produced in the United States, breaking the trend of cashmere culture. For more than 100 years, cashmere shawls have always been the main consumer product.
In 1964, Beijing Renli Hemp Textile Factory broke through the blockade of key cashmere technology and produced China's first cashmere sweater, ending the history of only being able to export raw materials.
Currently, China produces 80% of the world's cashmere, with Inner Mongolia being particularly renowned for its high-quality fibers. China leads the global cashmere industry in several important areas, including the production of raw materials, processing volume, exports, and sales.
2. What is Cashmere?
Cashmere is sourced from the soft undercoat of goats, specifically grown during winter to protect them from freezing temperatures. Unlike coarse wool, this downy layer is incredibly soft, lightweight, and eight times warmer than merino wool. Its fine fibers trap air efficiently, creating an insulating layer that ensures warmth and durability without bulk. This rarity and performance justify why cashmere is expensive due to both natural and human factors.
3. Ethical Sourcing & Production
Cashmere’s scarcity isn’t just about geography. Goats produce this precious fiber only once a year, and ethical farming practices are critical. Brands like IMField prioritize sustainable sourcing from Mongolia, ensuring healthy goats and premium fibers. However, unethical practices elsewhere can compromise quality, further tightening the limited supply of top-tier cashmere.
4.Cashmere production and weaving
The entire process of cashmere from goats to made clothing is long and complicated. Each step is done carefully to maintain the quality of the cashmere fiber, requiring a lot of time and labor.
Combing: In spring, herders will use a special metal comb to comb the wool gently and evenly against the hair to collect the raw cashmere.
Preliminary selection: Manually remove impurities to ensure the first line of defense for the quality of cashmere.
Selection: The cashmere selected in the preliminary selection will be carefully selected by professional teachers.
Washing cashmere: The selected cashmere will be washed in all directions.
Combing: The cleaned cashmere will be combed by machine, and repeated seven to eight times, and you will get light and snow-like hair-free cashmere.
Strip making: The loose hair-free cashmere is combed into a wool strip, which is convenient for combing fine yarn on a needle combing machine.
Dyeing: The traditional hanging dyeing process is used to ensure the natural softness and elasticity of the fiber, giving the cashmere a new color.
Spinning: 1 gram of cashmere yarn can be spun into 100 meters of cashmere yarn after weaving.
Weaving: The cashmere yarn is finally transformed into a soft cashmere fabric through the weaving process, thus making cashmere clothin
5. Cashmere vs. Wool: A Superior Choice
Cashmere outperforms wool in nearly every aspect. Its fibers are finer, lighter, and more breathable, offering a luxurious feel unmatched by merino wool. While wool sweaters may shrink and feel scratchy, cashmere retains its shape, resists pilling, and grows softer with wear. Its exceptional moisture-wicking ability also makes it ideal for layering in cold weather.
Why is Cashmere So Expensive?
Limited Supply: Each goat yields minimal fiber annually.
Labor-Intensive Process: From combing to weaving, every step requires precision.
Unmatched Qualities: Lightweight, insulating, and incredibly soft.
Ultimately, cashmere’s blend of natural rarity, artisanal craftsmanship, and luxurious feel cements its status as a timeless investment—one that delivers warmth and durability while elevating everyday elegance.
