Cashmere

There is nothing better to slip into on a cool evening than a luxurious cashmere sweater - very Grace Kelly!

Cashmere is an extremely soft, luxurious fabric made from the hair of the cashmere goat - native to Kashmir in northwestern India, Tibet, Turkestan, Iran, Iraq and China. Cashmere is obtained from the animal by combing rather than clipping.

The fiber of the down is cylindrical, and has a soft, silky finish. although light in weight, cashmere is very warm.

The majority of the world's cashmere today comes from China and Mongolia, which raise cashmere goats in the Gobi Desert. These cashmere goats are bred specifically for their extremely soft, pale hair that can be dyed to any color, and are therefore highly sought after. The harsh conditions in the Gobi Desert severely restrict the number of goats that can be raised, however, meaning that the hand harvested and often hand spun fiber commands a high price when it reaches the market: and this is before the notoriously difficult yarn has been knitted or woven!

Garments made with cashmere are normally more expensive because of limited yield (one goat produces only 4 ounces of fleece a year).

The gorgeous cashmere sweater shown here is
Ami Dans La Rue Cashmere Pullover