The cashmere scarf is commonly known to be a luxury fabric. But why is this? This article will give you all the facts you need to know about this beautiful textile.
The Origins of Cashmere
The fabric first got its name from a region in between India and Pakistan named Kashmir, where the breed of goats that produce this wool originates from.
Different breeds of goats are raised for different purposes. The breed that produced cashmere, also known as the Cashmere goat, is now bred in the extreme weather areas for its special fiber.
The goats are able to produce up to 100 grams of fabric each year and the males are sought after as they often yield more than the females.
Cashmere goats produce two fleeces. The soft under-down is used to make cashmere.
This fleece is usually gathered after winter, during molting season, typically in late April and early of May.
In order to produce one 100% cashmere scarf, you would probably need somewhere between one to three cashmere goats! China is now the largest supplier of the raw materials needed to make cashmere items.
The Properties of Cashmere Scarf
Enough about the goats, let’s talk about why the fabric is so unique. Cashmere fibers are six times finer than a human hair. It can be anywhere between 14-19 microns. The thinner the fiber, the softer the cashmere.
In order to make a cashmere scarf, the fibers can be woven into 2ply yarn. This makes it a more resilient material. However, this extra step in the procedure takes a considerable amount of effort… making it even more expensive!
Cashmere scarf has incredible insulating properties, despite it only being a few millimeters thick. The products are desirable due to the fact that they keep their shape for a very long time and they will not stretch or fade if you look after them well.
To test the quality of the cashmere scarf, look for tension in the knitting. If you stretch a part of the product, it should quickly return to its original shape.
The History of Cashmere
Cashmere is well known throughout history. It was prized in ancient Rome for being incredibly luxury.
Napoleon helped to popularize cashmere by buying a cashmere shawl for his wife.
According to some sources, Marina Romanov once said that cashmere was, “… one of the softest, warmest and longest-lasting materials.”
It has been suggested that a gentleman by the name of Mr. Ali Hamdani, a 14th-century craftsman founded the cashmere industry.
However, some sources credit this to Zain-ul-Abidin, the 15th-century ruler of Kasmir.
Cashmere was extremely sought after by high-society women throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, as it gave the impression of wealth.
A particular fan of the cashmere trend was the French Empress Josephine, who reportedly had hundreds of cashmere shawls.
In the 1800s Scotland and Australia joined the cashmere production trend.
In more recent history, the new cashmere trend is bathrobes!
Now 100% cashmere scarf has become one of the most-wanted winter accessories. To own it, to wear it, you will feel the comfort and warmth it brings to you immediately.
