Cashmere Sweaters Myths Busted

Cashmere is often a misapplied term. Often people use it to refer to any soft sweater made of wool. However, cashmere sweaters are actually made of wool made from Cashmere goats. The hair from these goats is actually spun into wool that creates the luscious feel and softness that is the hallmark of Cashmere.

One of the most persistent myths about Cashmere is that the hairs that are used to create the wool come from the neck and belly areas of the goat which would be the dirtiest part of the goat. In actuality, the most prized goat hair for Cashmere wool comes from the saddle area or back of the goat.

Another common myth is that the goats are shaved like sheep to collect the hair to spin into the Cashmere wool. Again, not entirely true. In New Zealand, the goats are often sheared like sheep; however this creates a great deal of hair but very little actual Cashmere comes from the hair. The normal method of collection is to brush the goats and collect the hairs with each stroke. The hairs must then be separated by hand and the coarse guard hairs must be separated from the long, delicate Cashmere fibers. This is a long and tedious method of collecting the hairs and accounts in part for the high cost of Cashmere sweaters.

Myths regarding the fit and wearing of Cashmere are also common. Cashmere sweaters don't generally have a lot of stretch to them and are more "fitted". When purchasing a Cashmere sweater, it's a good idea to go a size larger if you intend to layer or you want a sweater that will fit a little more loosely.

Those are just a few of the common myths about gorgeous Cashmere. If you don't already own a Cashmere sweater, consider adding one to your wardrobe. The look and feel of Cashmere will have you soon shopping for more!