Cashmere — everything you need to know about cashmere wool
What is the origin of cashmere?
Which animal does it come from?
The cashmere that goes into making your favourite jumper has a wonderful story to tell — from its origins on the high plateaus of Inner Mongolia, all the way to your skin, where it elevates every look.
It begins with the cashmere goat, or Capra Hircus: through harsh winters reaching as low as -40 degrees, they develop an extremely fine down, exceptionally warm and supremely soft. This is the material at the origin of cashmere.
These goats are also found in the Himalayas, where the fibre was originally knitted in the Kashmir region of India. It is from there that this wool takes its name.
The history of cashmere
For some, accounts of cashmere can be found in Marco Polo's travel journals from the 13th century. For others, the first cashmere product was a pair of socks given to the King of Kashmir by a Persian Sufi, in the 14th century.
What is certain, however, is that it was not until the early 19th century that cashmere arrived in France and Europe, through Jean-Baptiste Decrétot, a linen draper from Normandy.
The NOTSHY cashmere Poncho jumper arrived in the 21st century — and we won't make you wait nearly as long before offering you new iconic creations!
Cashmere-producing countries around the world
Today, the autonomous region of Inner Mongolia in China is the world's leading producer of cashmere, along with Mongolia. Together, they account for 90% of global production. Pakistan and India, which border the Himalayas, as well as Iran, are also among the countries that produce cashmere, albeit in smaller volumes.
We select fibres perfectly suited to the garment we wish to create, so that when knitted, the result is an incredibly soft and supple stitch.
How is cashmere made?
Cashmere production is the fruit of an ancestral savoir-faire combined with the talent of contemporary designers.
Combing and spinning the yarn
The down of cashmere goats is collected each spring, when they naturally shed their winter coat. They are then combed to harvest the cashmere fibres.
The down is then separated from the guard hair (the long, coarse outer hairs that protect the animal and keep the down beneath the fleece intact), before the fibres are cleaned and dyed, in order to create the cashmere yarn.
At NOTSHY, we select fibres perfectly suited to the garment we wish to create, so that when knitted, the result is an incredibly soft and supple stitch — which is why you love wearing our creations next to your skin.
Creating the stitches
Knitting is the moment when the NOTSHY style truly comes to life. We have chosen fashion-forward cuts and striking details, to offer every woman an uncompromising look.
Knitted in light and airy stitches in summer, warm and dense in winter — at NOTSHY, cashmere accompanies women throughout their daily lives, from morning to the end of the night!
To achieve this result, we carefully study the design of each cashmere garment or accessory. Adjusting the gauges, tension levels, yarn counts and number of plies allows us to offer our pieces in a wide variety of styles, for your greatest pleasure.
What are the benefits of cashmere?
The benefits of cashmere are numerous — whether it's a dress, a jumper, an accessory or a pair of trousers, a 100% cashmere piece is always a great choice!
With a cashmere garment, you're sure to enjoy:
• Incomparable softness
• Unrivalled comfort
• Thermoregulating properties: it can be worn in winter and summer alike!
• A natural and sustainable fibre
• …and at NOTSHY, vibrant colours in endless variations!
What are the drawbacks of cashmere?
It has a reputation for being delicate — and that's true. But simply caring for it properly is enough to keep your favourite pieces looking beautiful for many years. Discover our cashmere care tips — we promise, they're easy to follow!
Cashmere is a costly material because it is precious — that's a fact: its price is directly linked to the amount of cashmere in your favourite garment; the greater the quantity, the higher the cost. But its price also reflects its rarity: a goat produces only 100 to 150 grams of cashmere each year, and a minimum of 180 grams is needed to make a scarf… That explains why cashmere is so particularly precious. At NOTSHY, it is also the quality of the yarn, the knitting and the craftsmanship of its 100% cashmere garments that justify their value.
How can you tell whether a cashmere piece is of
good quality?
Fibre type, knitting technique… To assess the quality of a cashmere garment, several factors must be taken into account.
First and foremost, the length, fineness and purity of the cashmere fibres used in its making are a reliable indicator. A high-quality garment will be knitted with long, fine cashmere fibres. The density of the knit and the quality of the finishing also matter. Finally, the origin of the cashmere and the production methods can serve as quality indicators.
How can you tell whether a cashmere garment is warm or lightweight?
It is sometimes thought that the number of plies defines the quality of a cashmere piece — but that is not quite right. The number of plies refers to the thickness of a creation, and it is true that a thicker jumper is often more expensive, but simply because it contains more material.
For example, a jumper of standard thickness, i.e. 2-ply, means that each stitch of the jumper is knitted with 2 cashmere yarns, like our best-seller the Faustine poncho jumper. It can be worn all year round and pairs with all your outfits.
A 4-ply cashmere knit is of intermediate thickness, like the Vekina high-neck jumper. It is a perfect jumper to keep you cosily warm during the transitional season.
Once it starts to get colder, opt for a 6-ply piece such as the Emilienne V-neck jumper.
Finally, a 12-ply cashmere jumper will be delightfully warm and thick — ideal for winter, like our Audrey roll-neck jumper.
Remember to check the gauge of a cashmere piece too!
Once you have identified the number of plies, look at the gauge of the chosen garment. This figure refers to the number of stitches and rows per square centimetre — it is a measure of knit density.
In practical terms:
- A cashmere garment with a low gauge contains more stitches per square centimetre, meaning the fabric is denser and less permeable to air. It will therefore be warm and perfect for winter, as it retains body heat more effectively.
- A garment with a higher gauge will have fewer stitches per square centimetre, allowing more air to pass through — making it ideal for a spring or summer outfit.
To help you choose the garment that perfectly matches your desires, NOTSHY always indicates the gauge of its jumpers and allows you to filter pages by the desired gauge: to do so, head to the filters!
Is cashmere the warmest material?
Cashmere fibre is said to be warmer and more insulating than sheep's wool, at equivalent thickness. This is hardly surprising when one considers that the goats producing it endure particularly harsh winters, regularly reaching -20 and -30 degrees.
What is especially appreciated when wearing a cashmere scarf, jumper, dress or cardigan is the sum of its qualities: its unrivalled comfort, its lightness and its incomparable softness for the warmth it provides.
What is the difference between cashmere and pashmina?
Do you think pashmina is a type of scarf and cashmere a fibre used to make beautiful jumpers? Not quite! Pashmina is also a fabric made from the hair of cashmere goats, or Capra Hircus, but only from the neck and beard area. Unlike cashmere, which is made from the down found across the entire surface of the goat.
You are now fully informed and ready to choose the ideal cashmere garment — good quality and perfectly suited to your desires.
