Buy Cashmere
Cashmere goats are easy to raise, healthy and take minimal care. Because of their luxurious coats that offer insulation, minimal shelter is required. They shed these coats in the summer. The fibers of cashmere goats coats are used in making cashmere, a very soft fabric that has been preferred by royalty down through the ages. Cashmere fabric is very soft, warm, long-wearing, softer than wool and also outwears wool.
buy cashmere
Cashmere has been used in clothing and accessories for thousands of years, eventually becoming a luxury fashion material in Europe by the 19th century. More recently, cashmere has become affordable to a wider range of consumers, yet farming methods continue to exact a high price on the goats used to produce this type of wool. Cashmere production is also responsible for unsustainable impacts on the environment, often made worse by climate change.
Though wool is sometimes removed from cashmere goats using shears or a brush, today it is often removed using a sharp-toothed comb. Combing is the preferred method for several reasons, primarily because shearing removes the overcoat as well as undercoat of wool, though this leaves goats with less protection from harsh weather conditions.
There are vegan alternatives to cashmere, including a cashmere produced from vegetables. If these alternatives were to become more widely available, the fashion industry would have an opportunity to shift away from animal-based clothing materials.
There is a common misconception that animals do not suffer for the production of cashmere and other wool because their skins do not need to be removed, as they are in fur farming. However, animal advocates say the reality is very different.
According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the removal of wool from cashmere goats is a lengthy and stressful combing process, during which a goat is tied up by the legs for as long as one hour. It can result in scratches, bruising and other injuries.
The suffering does not end when a goat is no longer used for wool either. A 2019 investigation of the cashmere industry in China and Mongolia revealed goats were eventually sold to slaughterhouses where they suffered, sometimes dying a slow death at these facilities.
Even though the cashmere clothing market is expected to be worth $3.5 billion by 2025, many of the Mongolian farmers behind its production are living in poverty. These farmers also live on land that is vulnerable to desertification, an effect of climate change and overgrazing. Increasing goat herd numbers has only further degraded the land.
Goats raised for cashmere typically roam and graze freely, giving them the opportunity to experience a life that is vastly different from those lived by the billions of animals confined on factory farms, particularly chickens and hogs. Yet many of these animals endure harsh weather extremes that are beneficial for the growth of their profitable wool, and also suffer greatly when their wool is removed.
At that point, the cashmere goats are sent to slaughterhouses. Investigative footage has revealed these animals endure violent abuse there, ultimately killed in much the same way as animals farmed for food.
The effects of cashmere farming should be of wider public concern. A study published in Conservation Biology in 2013 linked the grazing of goats for the global cashmere trade to the decline of several large mammal species native to Central Asia. Grazing goats can alter soil by trampling, leading to more runoff and erosion. They also tend to eat vegetation left by other ruminants that could act as protective soil cover. Goats are also frequently raised in environments naturally vulnerable to desertification because there is little rainfall.
Today there are many cashmere alternatives to choose from, from affordable retail offerings to high-fashion designs. One can find clothing and accessories that are not made from animal hairs, fur or skins, and that potentially take less of a toll on the environment.
As more people (particularly those in the West) demanded more cashmere knitwear, an industry that requires four goats to be combed for a single sweater has had to ramp up its pace. This has led to far lower welfare standards for goats and reduced payments to herders and industry workers, causing socio-economic struggles.
Reporting has consistently shown that rising demand for cashmere in the West is tied to a cashmere-debt cycle and poorer social outcomes for those working in the industry. It has also been directly linked to rising climatic temperatures, land degradation, and even some native species endangerment.
Fair Trade cashmere scarves and throws make the best gifts that give back! All of our cashmere is handloomed in Nepal using the softest Himalayan cashmere. Cashmere throws feature herringbone and chevron prints. Our cashmere scarves are either hand-loomed or made on a hand knitting machine. They are all one-of-a-kind and make great ethical gifts for any occasion!
From our humble beginnings over twenty-five years ago, we have ceaselessly searched the world for the most sumptuous cashmere, finest Merino wool, as well as the softest linen and organic cotton available. We proudly collaborate with textile artisans throughout the world. Every Stitch Counts.
Yes, one should buy cashmere one size larger. Also, the pullover should be 100 % cashmere. In combination with silk the pilling around the underarm area seems to be much worse. I have oversize pullovers in cashmere that look very good. How do the marino pullovers feel on the skin?
Cashmere is a naturally delicate material (this is part of why it's so enjoyable to wear), so it's very sensitive to being washed or dried incorrectly. Even washing cashmere in warm water can cause it to shrink (hot water is even worse, of course), as an article on the site Sewing Is Cool, explains. Stick to washing the cashmere in cold weather and avoid dryers and you should be good, though.
As with any sweater, never store your cashmere sweaters on hangers as it could cause the items to stretch out over time and affect their shape/fit. Instead, neatly fold them and store them flat in a drawer or on a shelf.
This cashmere blend comes in a striped print that will make you look and feel classy on a budget. As a cashmere blend, this lightweight, casual piece is ideal for transitioning from summer into fall. Emily in Paris could never.
For the ultimate cashmere piece, shop Gentle Herd. My effortless, Coastal Grandmother dreams come alive when wrapped in this gorgeous sweater. Crafted in soft cashmere yarn and finished with a classic V-neckline, you can wear this top with a half-tuck into skirts or pants. This is a year-round essential piece that you can start wearing now and roam the world for years to come.
But shopping for cashmere can be a serious pain. Not only is it so damn expensive, it's hard, at first glance, to spot quality cashmere goods. Don't even get us started on pilling, which is one of the worst phenomena like ever.
What exactly is cashmere?The soft and luxurious material hails from none other than the goat species. However, Victoria Stapleton, the founder and creative director of Brora Cashmere, tells us that these aren't just any old goats. She explains, "Cashmere raw material comes from the fleece of goats," and Stapleton adds that the goats usually live in "the high and dry plateau surrounding the Gobi Desert of Mongolia and China where the temperatures reach -40 degrees celsius (-40 degrees fahrenheit) in winter."
The below freezing weather is important, because it's what helps the "goats develop a thick downy fleece," Stapleton says, which is harvested for spring -- but that's not all. Jerry Pozniak, managing director of Jeeves New York, explains that cashmere is actually the "fine under hair" of the fleece, which acts as insulation for the goats.
Why is it expensive?If you're anything like us, you wander the aisles and get bug-eyes after seeing cashmere price tags. Stapleton tells us plain and simple that it's all in the fiber. Her company spends about $100 per 2 pounds of cashmere, which Stapleton says only yields about three cardigans. "Quality cashmere is an investment piece, which with care, will last you for years and it actually becomes softer with age," Stapleton says.
That said, there's a reason some cashmere is more expensive than others. "The longer fibers taken from the neck and underbelly are more expensive and are woven into higher quality cashmere items," Pozniak says, meaning that the money signs start showing up from the get-go.
How to spot quality goods:Shopping for quality clothing is arguably one of the hardest things to do, ever. But, there are a few ways to point out what you're getting for your buck when it comes to cashmere. First thing's first: caress the material to see how dense or soft it is.
The big difference between luxury cashmere and sweaters under $100:"The number of plies," Pozniak says. "Good cashmere sweaters should be at least two-ply, sometimes more," he adds. So check out those tags, people.
Both Pozniak and Stapleton give high price points that indicate better cashmere, mostly as far as sweaters are concerned. While Pozniak says that $200 is on the low side, Stapleton points out that anything over $400 is fair game. Well, if you call anything that expensive "fair."
About pilling:"Pilling is when the short fibers twist around themselves, caused by friction in wear areas, such as underarms or where a bag rubs," Pozniak says. Pills can look like snags or bits of fuzz. Surprisingly, it doesn't matter how expensive your cashmere is, because pills don't discriminate. Pilling "is an inevitable consequence of the careful processing of this fine fiber," says Stapleton. Don't worry, there are ways to remedy the annoying situation. Tools such as sweater combs and de-pilling stones remove the pesky pills, which will make your cashmere garments nice and soft. 041b061a72