Cashmere is characterized by its luxuriously soft fibers. In order for a natural goat fiber to be considered Cashmere, it must be under 18.5 micrometers in diameter and be at least 3.175 centimeters long. It is noted as providing a natural light-weight insulation without bulk. Fibers are highly adaptable and are easily constructed into fine or thick yarns, and light to heavy-weight fabrics. Appropriate for all climates, a high moisture content allows insulation properties to change with the relative humidity in the air. The finest fibers are gathered from the underbelly, shoulder or neck of the Cashmere goat, although most of the cashmere comes off of the sides of the goat’s body from the head to the tail.

Source of the fibre

The Cashmere (Kashmir) or goat down is the source of the wool that becomes cashmere fiber for clothing and other textile articles. The goat (Capra hircus Laniger) is a mammal belonging to the subfamily Caprinae of the family Bovidae. The goats produce a double fleece consisting of the fine, soft undercoat or underdown of hair commingled with a straighter and much coarser outer coating of hair called guard hair. In order for the fine under down to be sold and processed further, it must first be de-haired. De-hairing is a mechanical process that separates the coarse hairs from the fine hair and after de-hairing the resulting “cashmere” is ready to be dyed to color and converted into yarn, fabrics and garments.

Geographic origin

The goats reside predominantly in the high plateaus of Asia with the most significant populations being found in the northwestern provinces of China (Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Gansu, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Qinghai and Tibet), Mongolia, Iran (Kerman and Khorasan provinces) and Pakistan, India, and even parts of Afghanistan. Many nations in that area rely on cashmere as a luxury product that is exportable for high profit, including the significant supplier countries: China and Mongolia.

Today, little is supplied by the Kashmir State of India , from which its name is derived. The cashmere products of this area first attracted the attention of Europeans in the early 1800s.