A cashmere goat is any breed of goat that produces cashmere wool, the goat’s fine, soft, downy, winter undercoat, in commercial quality and quantity. This undercoat grows as the day length shortens and is associated with an outer coat of coarse hair, which is present all the year and is called guard hair. Most common goat breeds, including dairy goats, grow this two-coated fleece.
Nepalese goat herdsmen with Capra Hircus mountain goats
In 1994, China had an estimated population of 123 million goats and is the largest producer of cashmere down. Local breeds are dominant. In the past decades, breeding programs have been started to develop productive breeds.
The cashmere goat is a fibre goat along with the Pygora goat, Nigora goat and the Angora goat. There are also cashmere goats in Australia, Tibet and Mongolia, and there is even a herd in the UK.
A native of Himalaya
Cashmere is also known as Pashmina in Nepal. The fibres come from the body of the mountain goat Capra Hircus. This goat is a native of the Himalayan belt 10,000 feet above sea level, it is very harsh with extremely cold climate and scarce vegetation.
Blessed with the very thinnest, shortest wool found in the nature, it has an exotically silky texture, weightless light but super warm which when wearing it next to the skin.
Top cashmere care tips
- De-pill
- Treat stains
- Hand wash inside out
- Dry flat
- Cool iron
- Store in a knitwear bag
- Add anti-moth sachets
The best way to de-pill your cashmere
It is natural that cashmere pills, especially if it’s an area that has friction, for instance under your arms, or where a shoulder strap or seat belt rubs, so do be aware.
To make de-pilling easier you need to be wearing the garment.
Try our cashmere comb, it is quite gentle and effective. Hold the area and gently brush the rough edge against the wool, the pills are then removed and stick to the comb. The electric ones can be dangerous and chew the cashmere.
How to wash your cashmere
Most stores would recommend or even request professional dry clean when it comes to clean your cashmere garments, but actually this is not the best way. Think of the way you care for your own hair – this also applies to your cashmere sweaters, because they are all natural fibres.
Don’t be tempted to use the knitwear or delicate cycle on your washing machine with your best cashmere, unless you have tried and tested it with something cheap and cheerful. Too many times the cashmere becomes matted and shrinks.
Hand wash in lukewarm water using our lovely gentle laundry liquid, made from aloe vera and rosemary with very gentle soap. Leave to soak with a little laundry liquid directly if there are stains.
Dissolve the laundry liquid thoroughly, then put the sweater into water. Rinse gently and make sure you wash coloured garments separately.
Do not use bleach or rub any stains or marks, squeeze gently, do not twist or wring. Twisting the wet sweater would stretch the shape of your sweater. Dry flat after removing excess water, away from direct heat and sunlight. Press with damp cloth, using a cool iron, iron from the inside of the garment. Try our floral ironing water. (If you are looking to buy laundry liquid or floral ironing water, save by buying our gift set which includes both!)
Storing your cashmere
Before storing your precious cashmere garments in basements or attics, check carefully for leaks, dampness and sunlight. Fold clothes or pack them neatly in tissue paper or knitwear bag and store them in a closet away from light, dust and dampness.
Cleaning before storage is recommended, as fresh stains that may not yet be visible will oxidise and become pronounced during storage; also stains, hair and skin particles will be the food for moths.
Moths have a discerning palate, they feast only on natural proteins and fabrics. Add a scented drawer sachet to the knitwear bag, female moths don’t like strong smells, this is why lavender and cedarwood have been used for centuries to repel moths.
Additional care tips for cashmere sweaters
To keep your cashmere garments always clean and beautiful, here are some basic rules to follow:
- Do not wear the same garment too frequently. Allow the garment two or three days’ rest after a day’s wearing. A silk or Pashmina scarf goes well with cashmere tops and cardigans. Used between your cashmere top/cardigan and your neck, a scarf will also prevent powder or other cosmetics stains.
- Don’t spray perfume directly onto cashmere otherwise it may stain.
- Do not wear a cashmere garment next to rough clothing, metal necklaces, bracelets, belts and rough leather items such as crocodile leather bags. Dress up your cashmere with a silk scarf and pearl accessories instead of accessories with a rough surface.
- Pilling is caused by abrasion during regular use. It often develops around elbows, on the seat of skirts, and in areas rubbed by a bag or briefcase, even a seat belt. Soft, fuzzy surfaces are more susceptible than others. So for cashmere products, some pilling is normal after repeated usage.
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