What is Cashmere?

It is one of the finest fabrics in the world, produced by cashmere goats. It is 8 times warmer than lambswool. Our Mongolian production uses 100% A grade cashmere. The hairs are 20% longer than that from goats from other regions. Cashmere is only collected once a year in Spring by the nomadic herdsmen who look after their small flocks. When the goats moult they are combed by hand. No electricity is used, they are never stripped and it is a natural process. They are traditionally skinny animals and would freeze in the Winter without their coats, hence concerns over cheap mass produced cashmere where goats are stripped earlier in the year, leaving them vulnerable to cold. Temperatures can reach -50 so they definitely need their coats for as long as possible.

What are the different weights of your cashmere? And where do you wear them?

Labour intensity; animal welfare and quality of the yarn (see above!). ‘No animal was harmed in the process of making’ is actually true of a Jumper sweater. The price you pay will tell you how well the animal was looked after and also what type of hair was used. Our cashmere hair is separated into coarse and fine. The coarse hair is used domestically (in Mongolia) for duvets and other products. The remaining 10% of white hair is what we use to dye and make up into our jumpers.

How do you care for cashmere?

Cashmere should be washed inside out using shampoo or wool washing liquid. Yes. Shampoo. It’s hair. Preferably something without parabens. Washing removes the long fibres that rub together and pill. You can wash the majority of our cashmere on a wool wash in a machine with a low spin or by hand. Shape and dry flat.

Moths are the curse of cashmere. Never store when not clean, moths are attracted to food spills and smells. Try to store in sealed bags or with cedar balls and moth repellents. And we do offer a visible darning service if you’re plagued by the pests. Or you could sign up to The Hambledon’s darning workshop and learn the skill yourself!