What is Cashmere?
One of the most precious and luxurious natural products around, cashmere is coveted by many for its softness and insulating properties. High-end fashion Blankets of superior quality are often crafted from cashmere wool. Cashmere is renewable, sustainable, and it provides warmth without adding immense bulk. The best part? Unlike other forms of wool, cashmere does not have an itchy feeling
Where Does Cashmere Come From?
Cashmere comes from Kashmir goats, which dwell in the northern hemisphere, with the biggest herds located in China, Iran, Mongolia, and Afghanistan. The goats grow an extra layer of fleece for warmth between the 21st of June to mid-December. The colder the weather the goats experience, the longer their fur grows. On the outside is a guard layer that is wiry and waterproof, while the undercoat is ultra-fine.From that undercoat, we get cashmere.
However, depending on where the goats are located, the texture and softness of their fur may widely vary. The best cashmere fibre is harvested from Chinese or Mongolian Kashmir goats.
What makes a cashmere blanket so warm?
A pure cashmere blanket or pure cashmere throw will provide unbelievable warmth thanks to its special heating and temperature-regulating properties. These luxury cashmere blankets or cashmere throws can be up to eight times warmer than sheep’s wool and much cosier than cotton, thanks to their hollow fibres, whilst weighing a fraction of a wool blanket in the same size. These qualities make this material perfect for a cashmere blanket or cashmere throw, as well as a winter accessory or wrapped around you as a pashmina – pure cashmere in any form is guaranteed to keep you luxuriously warm and cosy!
How to identify quality cashmere?
Cashmere grades help determine the quality of the cashmere, as defined by the thickness and length of hairs on the fibre. The grades range from A to C, with A being the highest quality, and most expensive. As cashmere is known for its lightweight, soft properties, the highest-grade cashmere will feel the softest and will be better at retaining its shape, so it is well worth the investment compared to its cheaper counterparts.
Grade A:
The highest quality cashmere as the fibres will both be the longest and finest. The diameter of the fibres can be as low as 14-15.5 microns, with a length of 34- 36mm. N.Peal always use the highest Grade cashmere in our products to ensure an exceptional and beautiful product that will last.
Grade B:
This will be thicker, and not as soft as Grade A, with a diameter of 19 microns. This is still considered a high-grade cashmere, but will be noticeably less valuable and durable compared to Grade A.
Grade C:
This is the lowest quality grade for cashmere, as the fibres are much thicker with a diameter of around 30 microns. This is much cheaper than the other grades, and will not feel as soft.