What is Cashmere?
To begin with, Cashmere is the raw wool, the undercoat of a Pashmina goat which is found in Ladakh. Even though, it is found in China, Mongolia, Tibet, Nepal and other region in the world, but Ladakhi Cashmere Series is the best and finest of them all. The Changthangi goat in Ladakh survives a temperature of -40 degrees just because it is covered in this warm fleece. Cashmere keeps the goat warm and comfortable in winters, and is the only protection that the goat has in a freezing temprature.
As soon as Winter bids goodbye, and Spring arrives, this wool becomes a burden for the goat. To get rid of its warmth, it rubs itself with rough surfaces. Fine hair can be seen around on bushes, rough stones, coarse bushes and in their own shed walls. Herders realize that its time, and call for professional help. Professionals arrive with specialized tools and combs, and start combing the goat's body gently, stroke by stroke. Firstly large portions are covered and then the smaller ones. Finally the goat is freed from the burden and it starts moving around freely.
It must be noted that one goat produces 70-400 grams of Cashmere, depending upon the size. Hence, to make one Pashmina shawl, wool from 3 to 4 goats is required.
The art of handcrafting luxury shawls, scarves, stoles and accessories from this fine Cashmere wool. The fabric was discovered in the 14th century by a Sufi mystic, who envisioned the world wearing it. He got his artisans working on the first set of Cashmere socks ever and voila, Cashmere has remained the most sought-after fabric in the whole wide world.
The fact that over 33 artisans work from dawn to dusk to create a simple Cashmere Or Scarf over a span of 2 to 6 months is enough to justify its value. In fact, if you find a really cheap variant claiming to be a 100% pure Cashmere scarf, you’ll need to stay miles away from it because Cashmere cannot be sold cheap owing to its rarity, less production, and the long stretches of unmatched craftsmanship that go into its making. Earlier, finding a real piece of Cashmere scarf would be no less than climbing a snow-laden mountain.
Why is Cashmere special ~ Why choose Cashmere
The question still remains, why should someone opt for an original Cashmere Coat when they can find cheaper alternatives in the market. What benefit would it bring to invest in this luxury fabric when you can easily do with low prices winter accents easily available in the market. It is a piece of warm wrap deserving of paying a hefty price in its exchange. Do we really need a Cashmere scarf?
Cashmere is an all-natural fabric
Like comfortable cotton and lustrous silks, Cashmere Sweater is an all-natural fabric. It is essentially made from animal hair-that of Changthangi goat. What is special about this hair is that it is the finest in the world. Studies reveal that the fiber shed by this goat is 6 times thinner than a strand of human hair. Besides, the processing of the original Cashmere does not know any machine intervention. It is gathered and cleaned by the locals, traded by nomads, spun over a wooden spindle by underprivileged women, and finally handwoven by a weaver over a traditional handloom.
What Is Wool Fabric?
Wool Series fabric is made from the natural fibers that form the fleece of animals such as sheep, goats, rabbits, camels, and more. This raw material is primarily made up of keratin-based proteins, which makes wool a remarkably elastic material. After cotton and synthetic fibers, wool is one of the most common textiles in the world. The biggest appeal of wool garments is that they hold in heat extremely well. Additional benefits of wool include its durability and its versatility, as it can be woven into both heavy, coarse fabrics and lightweight, soft fabrics.
The Australian wool industry leads the world in Wool Shawl Or Scarf production with 25 percent of the total global wool output. China and the United States are next, each with 18 percent, followed by New Zealand with 11 percent.
The pros and cons of each type of wool depend on the animal it comes from.
Alpaca: A versatile medium-weight wool fabric used for many purposes like high-end suiting, coats, blankets, outerwear lining, and bedspreads, alpaca wool is a lustrous material that's soft, lightweight, warm, and durable. There are two breeds of alpaca—Huacaya and Suri—that produce different types of wool: Huacaya fleece is thicker and often used for knit items, while Suri is silkier and used more in woven apparel.
Angora: Taken from the Angora rabbit (not the Angora goat which produces mohair wool), Angora Wool Coat is a soft and fluffy fiber that retains the most heat and has the best moisture-wicking ability of any natural fiber. Since Angora fibers are fragile, Angora is often blended with other fibers to make them stronger. Due to a combination of its valuable attributes and difficult cultivation process, Angora wool products are typically very expensive.
When cold temps strike and you're heading outdoors, let your hoodie off the hook and reach for a stylish wool hat instead. Not only does a wool winter hat keep your head warm, but it's also one of the easiest ways to amp up your wardrobe status.
Whether it's a fedora, newsboy cap, baseball cap, beanie, or top hat, most wool Caps are versatile enough for both men and women, so you'll never run out of options. But with so many choices, it can get a little overwhelming.
To save you time sifting through all the different styles of wool hats, take a look at our curated list of the coolest styles along with a few styling tips on how to wear them.