Cashmere Wool

Cashmere is a type of wool that is extremely fine in texture. It is soft, light, and characteristically strong. Garments made out of cashmere wool are extremely warm to wear, and are often popular in colder climates for this reason.

Technically speaking, according to the United States U.S. Wool Products Labeling Act of 1939, a product can only be labeled as cashmere if it is actually made from the undercoat fibers of the cashmere goat, is of an average diameter of over 19 microns, and contains over three percent of fibers that are actually over 30 microns in size.

Cashmere comes from cashmere goats in most cases, but it can come from other goats sometimes as well. These goats actually produce two layers of fleece. The closest layer is called the undercoat, and is made up of the fine, soft hair that is valued for making Cashmere.

The longer, coarser hair is known as guard hair, and it needs to be separated before the cashmere can be made. This is done mechanically, after which the fine cashmere that remains is dyed, and then converted into yarn, then fabrics, and then garments.

China, Mongolia, India, Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey are some of the top producers of raw cashmere in the world, with China producing close to 10,000 metric tons every year, followed closely by Mongolia, who produces about 3,000 tons per year.

Cashmere can be made into all kinds of different pieces of clothing. Some of the most popular things made from cashmere are socks, gloves, hats, cashmere sweaters, jackets, pajamas, blankets, and even scarves.

Italy, England, Scotland, and Japan are known especially for being market leaders in cashmere clothing.