All the latest fashion trends are pointing to one undeniable fact: cashmere is in, and it is here to stay. So, what is cashmere and why do people want clothes made from this exclusive material? Cashmere is a type of wool, produced by the cashmere goat, rather than the domesticated sheep from which we get our regular wool that is used worldwide for all different types of clothing.
Cashmere wool is much scarcer than sheep’s wool, the cashmere goat only produces a small amount of wool annually, and therefore the price of cashmere garments aptly reflects its low supply. The fibres produced by the cashmere goat are much finer and shorter than the fibres found in sheep’s wool meaning that, when processed, cashmere wool is of a much higher quality than sheep’s wool and has many positive characteristics that sheep’s wool unfortunately does not share.
The first of these characteristics is that cashmere is hypoallergenic. Cashmere lacks a compound known as lanolin, which is found in sheep’s wool. Those of us with sensitive skin can suffer from irritation when faced with wearing clothes made from sheep’s wool, but when it comes to cashmere garments there is no need to worry. In addition to the wool’s hypoallergenic properties, the finer, less coarse fibres found in cashmere make it far smoother than sheep’s wool and other materials commonly used in clothing such as hoodies.
A hoodie made from cashmere wool will be noticeably smoother, more insulating, and lighter than that of its regular wool counterpart. The cashmere is also much more breathable and allows the person wearing the cashmere garment to feel cooler and less smothered by the garment should their body temperature rise or the weather outside start to get a bit warmer. These properties make cashmere an ideal choice for those of us with allergies or those that sometimes feel a bit constricted and overheat in regular woolen clothing.
It’s true, cashmere does come with a price tag, but when you weigh up all of the positives and negatives, you’ll find that, ultimately, cashmere is an extremely good option when it comes to hoodies or other warm items of clothing – especially if you’re intending the keep the garment for a long time. Cashmere is much more durable than regular wool, and if you maintain a cashmere garment properly, it will outlast four or five regular items of that clothing description.
The reason why cashmere is becoming so popular, and also why you should consider making your next hoodie a cashmere piece, is because of the material’s versatility. Cashmere is up all across the fashion industry, from formal pieces of cashmere clothing to streetwear, there is a piece of cashmere out there for everyone in every walk of life.
If you’re into baggy, streetwear looks, then an oversized cashmere hoodie could go really well with your everyday walk-about fit! Pair up an oversized, minimal cashmere hoodie with some jeans and an oversized t-shirt underneath and you’re good to go - especially seeing as though you can wear the hoodie year-round.
If you’re into more professional or looking for office-oriented looks, there’s a whole host of cashmere clothing options that will pair up nicely with formal clothing, jumpers and hoodies included.
Making sure you take care of your cashmere fits is essential after purchasing. Remember, this isn’t your regular cotton/polymer/woolen hoodie, this is cashmere. Washing your cashmere items on cold and being sure to air dry will keep your garments looking fresh and will also help them to maintain their quality.
If hoodies aren’t for you then there are a whole host of other cashmere options to consider, sweaters, jumpers and cardigans are all similar pieces, but don’t rule out t-shirts, coats, ponchos and whatever else you may be looking for this holiday season. Always do your research before purchasing a specific piece, it’s relatively easy nowadays to determine where the fibres for a cashmere garment came from, and how that may determine the overall quality of the garment. The best quality cashmere seems to come from extremely cold climates in inner-Mongolia, so keep an eye out for pieces that originate from those areas!