Wondering about the exquisite natural material-CASHMERE? We are exactly what you are looking for.
Handmade from the beautiful valleys of Central Asia, Cashmere fabric is the epitome of textile fibers which not only provides warmth and comfort to the wearer but also has excellent draping qualities and soft texture.
An essence of grace, poise and decadence, woven with delicate fine diameters and natural luster, Cashmere fabric is the vogue of the hour and the fashion world’s grail.
What is Cashmere Made of?
Derived from the region of Kashmir-historically associated with the production of luxurious fiber, ”Cashmere” is a prized fabric that comes from specially bred fine-hair, soft under fleece of the Cashmere and Pashmina goats. These specific goats are only found at the high altitude regions of Central Asia, especially in the Himalayan range, Mongolia, Southwest China and Tibet. Some other regions like Italy and Iran also produce high quality Cashmere wool. It is one of the softest and most luxurious forms of wool and is characterized by the fineness of the silky fibers.
The cashmere goats easily adapt to harsh climates, and during the winter months, it grows a dense, soft undercoat. Procuring the desired Cashmere fabric is a complicated process. In the spring, during the molting season, the fine cashmere fibers are collected and processed to create the highly sought after material known for its softness, warmth and elegance. When the goats naturally shed their coat, the wool needs to be gathered. This wool, gathered from the coarse overcoat hairs is then separated from the fine and soft undercoat hair, which eventually becomes the cashmere. Once the fibers are separated, they are assembled into bales and spun into yarns which is then kitted or woven to produce the beautiful, elegant appeals like loungewear, scarves, shawls or cashmere summer clothing and more.
Cashmere is made by combing the goat’s coats as it usually yields less coarse hair which leads to the production of high quality cashmere. The value of cashmere largely depends on the fiber diameter, staple length and fleece weight. Fiber diameter, measured in microns or μm (thousandths of a millimeter) determines the comfort of the material. The thicker the fiber, the coarser and heavier the cloth woven from it will be. Thick fibers may cause an itching sensation on the skin; they are used for carpets, bags and insulation. Intermediate fibers are suitable for garments such as sweaters that are not worn next to the skin, while fine fibers are good for garments that are worn next to the skin. Not surprisingly, the finest fibers are most valuable and are used for making the best cashmere materials.
Wondering What Makes Cashmere So Desirable?
The exclusivity of cashmere comes from its origin. This yarn is garnered from finite resources and has a very limited world production. Can you believe that it takes 4 goats worth of cashmere to make just one sweater? Yes! Ones Cashmere goat can only produce no more than7 to 10 ounce (200 to 300 grams) of fabric every year. The delicate handling of the material, the handpicked yarns and the long manufacturing process when coupled with the rising demand of the material and the scarcity of good quality cashmere, justifies the higher desirability of the fiber.
Cashmere‘s ultra-fine fiber – with a diameter of up to 18 microns (thousandths of a millimeter), is finer even than the finest Merino wool which makes it ideal for high-end fabrics and garments. The snug and softness provided by the Cashmere fibers is a league of its own. It is an extremely fine fiber whose softness is often unparalleled compared to other natural fibers. Cashmere is the best choice if you suffer from redness, irritation and body acne caused by woolen materials. It is, generally, hypoallergenic, which makes it a suitable choice for people with sensitive skin.
The robust nature of high quality cashmere also tends to resist wrinkles and maintains its shape well over time. It is not only a long lasting textile with excellent insulating properties, but also one with natural breathability. Cashmere fibers are hollow and the air pockets inside them act as a thermal insulator. This helps the textile to regulate your body temperature by quickly absorbing the moisture and keeping the body warm and dry.
The versatility of the material makes it suitable for all climatic conditions. The thermo- regulating power of the fabric not only makes it suitable to be worn all round the year but also felicitous for both casual and formal occasions. Its smooth texture provides it with a refined, luxurious appearance which makes cashmere synonymous to sophisticated and high end fashion.
Worried About The Authenticity?
With the popularity of Cashmere, a lot of counterfeit products are marketed under its disguise. Cashmere is significantly warmer and lighter than sheep’s wool, and is somewhat similar to mohair, which is made from angora goats. So, cashmere wool is often blended with other types of wool, like merino, to give it added weight, since cashmere fibers are very fine and thin.
To understand the difference between blended cashmere and authentic cashmere, you can use a number of tests such as the burn test or the flame test. Like all pure fabric, pure cashmere typically burns slowly with a distinct sharp smell of burnt hair and forms a soft ash residue. Some other easy testing methods include the stretch test, where the clothes made out cashmere is gently stretched out and then released. High quality cashmere tends to quickly return to its standard shape, where as low quality cashmere may remain stretched out or take significantly longer.
Though you can perform these quick and easy tests yourself, you might not always want to burn your sweater. The microscope test or lab test is the most reliable method to identify authentic cashmere. Specialists in the lab count each microns of the fiber and check its composition and diameter under the microscope. Then the high quality cashmere products are labeled as “100% cashmere” or “pure cashmere”. So, the best way to tell the authenticity of your cashmere is by checking the labels of the product or relying on recognized certifications.
Run your fingers through the smooth and luxurious texture with Davinii. Davinii Cashmere’s mission is to bring to you the authentic cashmere products drawn from the “golden fleece”. We are extremely selective of our cashmere apparels and you will find only the chic, classy and ethereally timeless products here.
It‘s Time to Wrap Yourself in the Elegance and Embrace the Luxury of Cashmere.