| ere is one of the hottest must-have fashion | | | | softer and fuller as the strands get |
| accessories for the stylish woman in the market | | | | “opened.” |
| today. Beautiful, soft, and infinitely luxurious, the | | | | Fourth factor is the fiber length. Longer fibers usually |
| cashmere is truly a worthwhile investment to your | | | | mean stronger yarn, and stronger yarn means less |
| wardrobe. Cashmere is also used for draping, window | | | | pilling. Pillings are abrasions of short fibers into small |
| treatments, grain bags, ropes, blankets and tent | | | | balls on the fabric surface. Pilling usually occur in new |
| curtains. It is important then, to know just how to select | | | | cashmere sweaters. It shouldn’t persist in good |
| and buy a cashmere. Thankfully, there are some | | | | garments after the first cleaning. Other manufacturers |
| handy tips to keep in mind when purchasing this lovely | | | | use shorter fibers because it is not as expensive. |
| fabric. | | | | Finally, the last factor is the plying. Plying relates to |
| Cashmere should feel smooth, soft and luxurious. If a | | | | weight and has nothing to do with quality. |
| cashmere sweater, for example, does not feel all that, | | | | However, a two-ply yarn is better than a single ply |
| then it’s not a good buy. A good cashmere | | | | because the ply twist avoids the torque inherent in a |
| sweater, or a pashmina should feel hefty and | | | | single yarn. Manufacturers and sweater makers use |
| substantial, even if it’s not a heavy garment. | | | | additional plies, but these usually don’t add extra |
| There basically five main factors that distinguish a | | | | quality. |
| quality cashmere. | | | | It would also be a good idea to be vigilant about the |
| First is the density. A loosely knit cashmere, one that | | | | product labels and customer satisfaction. Some sheep |
| limps, is the mark of cheap cashmere. If you pull the | | | | wool is blended with dehaired cashmere, and these |
| sides of your cashmere sweater apart, it should easily | | | | fibers are being sold as 100% cashmere. |
| snap back into its original form. Another factor is the | | | | Because cashmere is also a rare and expensive |
| texture. Fine cashmere is softer, so it is more | | | | commodity, and because of increased competition and |
| expensive than the rougher cashmere. If you run your | | | | demand for this luxurious fiber, there has also been an |
| hands across the fiber, you should immediately sense | | | | increase in product contamination. There are a lot of |
| the difference between a soft fiber and a coarse | | | | reasons for unscrupulous manufacturers to cheat on |
| fiber. | | | | the amount of fibers in a garment. Check for loop |
| The third factor is the color. The dyeing process | | | | labels and hang tags for cashmere percentage. A |
| usually harms the feel of the cashmere, so less dyeing | | | | garment that lacks a statement of actual fiber |
| is better for the cashmere. Lighter shades also feel | | | | percentages is a violation of the Wool Products |
| softer to the touch as dark colors use stronger dyes | | | | Labeling Act of the United States. It’s also false |
| which make the item not as soft. Still, once a knitted | | | | advertising, which is also illegal. |
| garment is washed, the garment tends to become | | | | |