Cashmere is an exquisite handmade material used for clothing and other products. It is also known for the fact that it costs incredible amounts of money and some people sometimes do not understand what to pay for if it is ordinary yarn. In Asia, cashmere is nicknamed “pure gold,” but whether this justifies its price is difficult to say. Every woman knows about this yarn. These are soft, pleasant, weightless threads, and the fabric turns out surprisingly warm.
How do you get it?
Cashmere is the down of mountain goats, and of a special and quite rare breed. Down is collected only once a year - in the spring. Moreover, they do not cut or shave, like wool, but pluck or comb out. The name of the fabric originates precisely from the area of breeding of these animals - the principality of Kashmir on the island of Hindustan in India.
One animal gives approximately 200 grams. The fluff is subsequently processed to make yarn and the volume is reduced. This is why cashmere is considered one of the most expensive fabrics in the world - there are too few raw materials.
REFERENCE: Goats of this breed live exclusively in the Himalayas.Attempts to breed the breed in Asian countries were unsuccessful.
The fluff is spun into yarn entirely by hand. Coloring is also done by hand. The natural colors of the yarn are white, gray, black and brown, matching the color of the goats. That is why the fabric received such high-profile names as “wool diamond” - there are too few raw materials, and the processing is exclusively manual.
Features of the material, properties
Cashmere is especially valued for its low density, but its amazing ability to retain heat. The fabric interacts with human skin, creating natural protection - the layer of air between the material and the skin warms up. The fibers, despite their thinness, retain a lot of air, adapting to external conditions. So, in the cold it will be warm, and in the warm it will not be hot.
Yarn, like any other, rolls into pellets. The fibers are resilient, flexible and look elegant. That is why the products feel like real silk, only warm. Also, cashmere does not accumulate static, and therefore attracts less dust, almost without becoming dirty.
Natural yarn creates an illusionary haze due to its fine fibers. They rise on the product, hence the impression of a light haze is created. For the same reason, the fabric cannot be in bright colors - all cashmere clothes are, as a rule, muted tones. Any dye, even the most durable one, will fade.
Pure cashmere has a matte, discreet color. The shine will reveal the additives, which means the yarn was not completely clean. However, additional materials add elasticity, which is not so bad.
REFERENCE: White fluff is considered the most expensive because it can be dyed, and also because pure color is rarely obtained.
Another feature is that the material is conditionally divided into two categories:
- Pashmina is a fine down yarn of the highest quality, the fibers are very fine. Expensive material.
- Cashmere (half pashmina) is a yarn made from thicker fibers, but costs less.
Also, approximately 10th of the fluff, even pure yarn, contains silk. It improves wearability, adds brightness and prevents clothes from wrinkling.
Application area
The fabric is truly versatile, and its scope of application is very wide. Cashmere is mainly used to produce textiles and clothing. The products are intended for both adults and children. As a rule, these are clothes for cold seasons:
- coat;
- gloves;
- hats (mostly berets);
- skirts, dresses;
- cardigans, etc.
Cashmere sweatshirts and winter dresses are regular guests in the collections of famous brands. Eastern countries have gone further - they produce hand-woven carpets, shawls and other clothes from goat fluff.
Cashmere clothing is a sign of wealth. It looks elegant, expensive and, most importantly, practical - the material gets dirty a little and hardly wrinkles. The material is well known throughout the world for its elegance and performance.
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