There are yarns you hold in your hands and immediately understand why they are expensive. Cashmere is one of them.
Soft in a way ordinary wool cannot imitate. Light. Warm. And with a price that often raises questions.
Let’s talk about it openly.
Where cashmere comes from
Cashmere comes from the fine undercoat on the neck and belly of Cashmere goats, a breed raised mainly in Mongolia, China and the Kashmir region of India and Pakistan.
What makes cashmere rare is quantity: a single goat produces on average only 150–200 grams of fine fibre per year. For a sweater you need the fleece of 2–4 goats. For a coat — 6–8 goats.
And harvesting is done by hand, with a special comb, once a year in spring.
Why it is so expensive
Several factors add up:
Small quantity - global cashmere production is naturally limited. You cannot simply raise more goats and get more - the climate and terrain of the regions of origin are essential to fibre quality.
Labour-intensive processing - separating the fine fibre from the coarser one is done by hand or with specialised machines. The yield is small - of the raw fleece harvested, only part becomes quality cashmere fibre.
Durability - a quality cashmere piece, properly cared for, lasts for decades. The price per wear is actually lower than it first appears.
Not all cashmere is the same
This is perhaps the most important piece of information: there are huge quality differences between the cashmere yarns on the market.
Lower-quality cashmere - common in fast fashion - is often blended with other fibres or comes from the goat’s coarser fibre. It feels rough after a few washes and pills quickly.
Top-quality cashmere, such as Classic Cashmere by Cardiff, is made in Italy from extra-fine fibre, with particular attention to every stage of processing. The result can be felt from the first touch and lasts over time.
Cardiff Prime - cashmere and silk
For those who want something even more special, the Cardiff Cashmere collection also includes Cardiff Prime - a blend of 68% cashmere and 32% natural silk. The silk adds a subtle sheen and superb drape, while keeping all the softness of cashmere.
Is it worth the investment?
It depends what you are looking for.
If you want a yarn for something quick and cheap, probably not. There are more affordable options that do a good job.
But if you want to make something you will wear for years, something that feels good at every touch of the skin — then yes, cashmere is worth every penny.
It is the kind of material that turns a simple project into an object you grow attached to.
