Cashmere

Cashmere is a luxury natural fiber obtained from the soft undercoat of cashmere goats. The term refers to the fiber as well as the fabrics spun from it, and it derives from the historical name for the region of Kashmir, though today production is widespread. The fiber is primarily collected from goats in China, Mongolia, and neighboring areas, with smaller production in Iran, Afghanistan, and parts of Central Asia.

Harvesting involves combing or light shearing during the goats’ molting season to collect the down. Only the fine undercoat is used; longer guard hairs are removed in a dehairing process. The fiber is then cleaned, sorted by fineness and length, and spun into yarn for textiles.

Cashmere fibers are extremely fine and lightweight. They are valued for softness and warmth, offering a high warmth-to-weight ratio. Typical fibers are measured by fineness and length, with the finest and longest fibers yielding the highest quality. Compared with common wool, cashmere is more delicate and can be prone to pilling and wear if not cared for properly.

Uses include sweaters, scarves, shawls, and other garments, as well as woven fabrics. Care requirements are more stringent than for many wools, often involving gentle washing or dry cleaning and careful storage to maintain loft and avoid damage.

Economically, cashmere commands a premium price because of limited supply and the labor-intensive process of harvesting, dehairing, and sorting. Major production centers are in China and Mongolia, with traditional markets and suppliers extending into other parts of Asia and Central Asia.