FAQs on Cashmere

• What is cashmere, is it kind of tiny wool?
  
  
• Why is cashmere usually so expensive?
  
  
• I saw pashmina shawls sold just for $9.9 by some individual sellers elsewhere, and the seller claims that it is 100% cashmere, could this be true?
  
  
• Where can I get the information for cashmere from a non-commercial source?
  
  
• What is Shahtoosh? Do you carry Shahtoosh?
  
  
• What exactly is Pashmina?
  
  
• What's the difference between shahtoosh, shamina, pashmina (cashmere), merino wool, alpaca, and mohair?
  
  
• How to remove the stains on my cashmere garment?
  
  
• I'd love to own a cashmere sweater but I am afraid that it is very difficult to take care of my cashmere, is there any easy way to do this?
  

Q: What is cashmere, is it kind of tiny wool?

A: Cashmere is not just a kind of tiny wool, it is not wool at all. Cashmere comes from goats living in the high and dry plateaus surrounding the Gobi Desert of Mongolia and China. Exposed to the most extreme environmental elements of altitude and cold, the goats grow a downy undercoat of soft hair beneath their coarse exterior coat, those hairs are extremely sleek, soft, warm and silky, they are called Cashmere.

Q: Why is cashmere usually so expensive?

A: Cashmere, the very word evokes images of luxury, warmth and softness. The ultra-fine fiber from the undercoat of the Cashmere (or Kashmir) goat, is indeed a premium fiber - one that generally costs a good deal more than mere sheep's wool.

Cashmere is the highest class of all natural fiber, warmer, softer, and lighter than all the rest. A goat only produces about 1.76 oz (50 grams) of washed cashmere each year. A woman's sweater usually weighs 5.29 to 10.58 oz (150 to 300 grams). That's the cashmere from 3 to 6 goats! Furthermore, garment production requires more than 20 separate processes, special equipment, and a lot of labor.

Q: I saw pashmina shawls sold just for $9.9 by some individual sellers elsewhere, and the seller claims that it is 100% cashmere, could this be true?

A: Currently there are a lot FAKE pashmina shawls are sold as real pashmina shawls over Internet. The current prices for those fake pashmina shawls are from $9 to $49.

Those fake pashmina shawls are usually made of 100% mercerized wool, some of them are made of acrylic (a kind of synthetic fiber), that is why they could make it so cheap (this price can not even cover the cost for a real cashmere shawl).

Be a smarter cashmere shopper! Those fake pashmina shawls are actually sold just for $1 or $2 in the market of Asian countries. Do not be fooled! Do not pay for those worthless fake things, do not encourage the liars by doing business with them!

Q: Where can I get the information for cashmere from a non-commercial source?

A: Fortunately there are many non-profit organizations working to promote the use of genuine cashmere products and to protect the interests of manufacturers, retailers and consumers of these products. Please check Cashmere and Camel Hair Manufacturers Institute (CCMI)

Q. What is Shahtoosh? Do you carry Shahtoosh?

A: Shahtoosh (aka Shah tush) is the shawl made from the hair of the Tibetan antelope, which is a kind of endangered species. We do not carry any Shahtoosh. It is illegal to import, sell, or buy Shahtoosh in U.S. and other 150 countries which signed CITES (The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora )Treaty.

However we do carry somethinglooks and feels like a shahtoosh but, happily, does not require the killing of up to five chirus to make one. Please check out our Shamina shawls, it is made of 100% finest cashmere, very soft with the natural shine of fine cashmere. It also features a Shahtoosh type fringe. Our shamina shawls are available in Sky Blue and Orange.

Q. What exactly is Pashmina?

A: In despite of all the fancy stories, let us see the explanation from the official organization for wildlife: FWS (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service): "Pashmina is the local name in India for the cashmere goat. Recently, this name is attributed to not only th source aninal, but to the fiber and the actual shawl itself. Pashmina shawl has become extremely popular in the fashion world since publicity about the illegality of shahtoosh ended most overt shahtoosh sales."

Q. What's the difference between shahtoosh, shamina, pashmina (cashmere), merino wool, alpaca, and mohair?

A. Let us compare these woolen products from their sources and fiber diameters:

shahtoosh: downy undercoat from Tibetan antelope (or chiru) (Pantholops hodgsonii); between 10 and 12 microns

cashmere: downy undercoat from goats (Capra hircus); between 12 and 21 microns

shamina: finer and softer cashmere fibers; may be less than 14 microns

merino wool: fleece from a breed of sheep (Ovis aries); between 18 and 24 microns

alpaca: hair from llama; between 17 and 28 microns

mohair: fleece from Angora goat; kid fleece is 22 to 27 microns; adults, over 40 microns

Q: How to remove the stains on my cashmere garment?

A: Treat stains as quickly as possible; rinse immediately with cold water; hot water may set the stain. If garments get wet, allow to dry away from direct heat, then brush with a soft nap gently.

Q: I'd love to own a cashmere sweater but I am afraid that it is very difficult to take care of my cashmere, is there any easy way to do this?

A: Let our cashmere specialists help you with Easy Tips on cashmere care, you will find it is not difficult and expensive at all!