Cashmere wool is one of the long-lasting and softest fibers in the world. It is procured from the Cashmere goats. Compared to the other wools – it is strong, flexible, and easily woven for luxurious garments. Predominantly, they are found in mountain plateaus, deserts, and East Asian Steppe. Cashmere wool is also commonly found in the United States, India, China, Mongolia, Turkey, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, and Afghanistan. Let’s find out Why is Cashmere wool so expensive?
Why Is Cashmere Wool So Expensive?
Cashmere wool is one of the finest and superior quality fabrics. The nature of the process, seasonal production, intensive-labor work, the rarity of the material, and high demands leads to expensive costs.
High Demand & Low Mass Production
Pure Cashmere wool demand is soaring high. The quality of this wool is super soft, lighter, and much warmer than the standard quality of wool. It is also comforting to wear in the summers. It occludes the sun and shields your skin. Exceptional quality leads to extreme luxury.
Since the wool is obtained from high-altitude ranges. More frosty regions usher goats to produce a thick layer of hair. However, a ball of entire wool is not utilized. The soft hairs that lie under thick ones are collected for production. The quality of Cashmere is different from region to region. Another cause for low production is – The supply of wool is scarce and it takes two, or three goats’ hairs to produce a single standard size scarf.
Dwindling Of Skilled Workers
The process of extracting wool from the sheep in huge volumes is not strenuous. However, solely for cashmere goats, the soft hairs are undercoated. They are procured by using hands and brushes. The procedure is extremely comprehensive. Further, only proficient workers can separate and shape the individual strands.
The quality of the cashmere wool relies on the skills of the laborers. Due to low-standard facilities, minor income, and often overlooked by the government, there is a decline in skilled craftsmen, weavers, and spinners. Separating individual strands, creating into pattern or artistic shape, and often it might take months and years to produce a single scarf or shawl.
The Process Of Fabrication Is Exorbitant
The complete wool is not completely used. Fifty percent of wool is lost in the cleaning process. The cleaning process – removes wastes, dirt, filth, and other dust. As mentioned earlier, it takes only skilled workers to carry out the procedure. Further, these fibers are dyed in different colors, then ventilated to avoid lumps.
Fibers will be harmed and damaged if any harsh chemicals or machine-equipped tools are utilized. Hence, no chemicals and mechanization processes are used.
Seasonal And Rare Material
This exquisite fiber is rarely found on the planet. It is narrowly 0.5% globally produced. The Cashmere goats reside well on the high plateaus of China, the Himalayas, and Mongolia. The duration of undercoating takes six months. In March and April. The cashmere goats begin to shed their hair naturally.
This is the period where the production starts on the farms. Due to the nature of the process, the makers/manufacturers have to wait for almost a year to receive the orders. When it reaches the market, they get sold swiftly. People who approach earliest have the advantage because the material is limited.
The Majority Of Brands Have Claimed To Sell Cashmere
European markets are one of the largest to hold market shares for Cashmere. Many luxurious brands have financed deliberately for this wool. Since these brands are prominent and renowned. The customers would seek them out and it would lead to more increase in demand and interest.
Besides, shawls and scarves wool was also used to make sweaters, jackets, trousers, and t-shirts. The exclusive quality of wool cannot be diminished. Thus, the quantity of wool remains limited steering the prices higher and higher.
How To Inspect Cashmere’s Quality?
Feel the fabric of the garment. Cashmere is a very luxurious fabric. It should feel very soft, and pleasant. The quality of the cloth will soften after wearing it often. Outstretch the garment gently, the real fabric will leap to its original shape, and the fake one will not return to its shape.
Observe the threads knitted closely. Loose knitting indicates that the garment is of low quality. Scrutinize the fibers steadily and slowly. If some amount of strands form a ball in your fingers, it indicates that it was created from the shorter hairs. Superior quality will have long and thin strands.
How Do You Wash & Maintain Cashmere Clothes?
The Cashmere clothes could be washed by hand or either in the washing machine. The finest way is to wash it by hand in cool water. The garment shall be inside out. Delicate detergent powder (8+Ph), particular wool wash products shall be used. Baby shampoo is used for softness. Do not use bleach.
Do not twist the cloth, it shall be gently pressed with the towel to remove the excess water. Keep away from direct sunlight and dry the garment at room temperature. Avoid folding the garment. Use mothballs and lavender to safeguard from insects and moths. Keep away from nylon material, as it may damage the wool. The iron should be kept at a low temperature and do not use directly on the garment.
Conclusion
This fabric is used to create sweaters, scarves, jackets, and much more. China, Mongolia, and Afghanistan are the highest producers of cashmere wool. Firstly, the wool is sheared from the goats to obtain the fur. Further, the raw material is cleaned to remove the dirt and impurities. Next, the individual strands are combed and sent to the spinning machine to create a yarn. This yarn is cleaned again and dyed if needed. Lastly, the yarn is woven and the final treatments are done.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the durability of a cashmere sweater?
Due to the exclusive quality of the wool, the durability of the cloth can last for a decade. If maintained well then it can be worn more than 150+ times.
2. What is the average cost of Cashmere wool?
The cost of the cashmere wool ranges from $40 to $2,400.
The fibers of the Mongolian goat are the extreme premium quality with the highest durability.
