Cashmere got its name from Kashmir, a small region North of the Indian Subcontinent between India and Pakistan. Currently, only a small part of today’s cashmere is produced here.
Cashmere only comes from the underfur of a particular breed of goats, called Hircus.
Cashmere can only be harvested in spring, the moulting season. This short time window makes this kind of wool rather seldom.
To make a medium size sweater, 3 to 5 goats are needed!
Sockswere the first kind of product made of cashmere. Ali Hamadani, a Persian Sufi, gave the the King of Kashmir a pair of socks as a gift, in the 14th century.
Its fibres deliver an excellent degree of insulation. Cashmere is actually believed to be 3 times more insulating than sheepswool.
Cashmere fibres are 6 times finer than strands of human hair, but the fabric is dense. Cashmere keeps you warm in extreme climatic conditions.
Cashmere does not stretch nor does it fade. If treated correctly, it keeps its shape during its entire life.
China is currently the largest global cashmere supplier.
