1/ What is cashmere?

To earn the name "cashmere", this precious and costly fibre must come from goat hair with a diameter of no more than 19.5 microns. It must also contain at least 30% more down than hair. It is this particular characteristic that makes cashmere so rare and of such high quality.

2/ Cashmere and water: a winning duo

Surprising as it may seem, cashmere loves water. According to a Mongolian belief, the more you wash it, the more beautiful it becomes. In contact with water, its fibres contract and then return to their original shape as they dry, a natural regeneration that restores its radiance and softness. This also helps reduce pilling and keeps the garment supple. To preserve the beauty of your cashmere pieces, wash them regularly following our recommendations in the "Cashmere care" section of our website.

3/ Is cashmere hypoallergenic?

Free of lanolin, cashmere is a hypoallergenic fibre that causes neither irritation nor itching. Incomparably soft, it can be worn directly against the skin, making it an ideal material for sensitive skin.

4/ Where does the word "cashmere" come from?

The term "cashmere" (cachemire in French) originates in India, where an exceptionally fine fabric was woven from the down of goats from Kashmir and Tibet. These goats, living at high altitude in extreme conditions, produced a rare and precious wool, particularly around the Kashmir region at the foot of the Himalayas.

5/ What are the natural colours of cashmere?

In its raw state, cashmere comes in only three shades: white, beige and dark brown. At Studio Cashmere8, we carefully select the finest, longest and lightest fibres to guarantee an incomparably soft cashmere with deep colours and lasting quality.

6/ How many goats does it take to make a cashmere sweater?

A single goat produces only around 100 grams of usable down per year. It therefore takes the wool of two goats to make a 2-ply cashmere sweater. With global production limited to between 7,000 and 10,000 tonnes a year, just 0.5% of total wool production, cashmere remains a rare and precious material. Moreover, like any agricultural raw material, its price fluctuates every year depending on the quality and quantity of the harvest.

7/ Where does cashmere fibre come from?

Cashmere comes from the Capra Hisca goat, a breed found mainly on the high plateaus of Mongolia. To survive freezing temperatures that can reach -40°C in winter, these goats grow a dense undercoat beneath their thick outer coat, protecting them from the cold, wind and snow. In spring, this down is shed naturally, and Mongolian herders carefully collect it using ancestral combing techniques preserved for more than 200 years. This exceptional fibre is the raw material of Studio Cashmere8.

8/ Is cashmere finer than our hair?

Cashmere is extraordinarily fine: its fibre is up to six times finer than a human hair, giving it an unrivalled softness to the touch.

9/ How do you recognise quality cashmere?

Not all cashmere is created equal. To identify exceptional cashmere:

  • Touch it: it should not be too soft or excessively fluffy, as it will become more supple and softer over time.
  • Look at the surface: if the fabric shows too much fuzz from the start, this may indicate the use of short, less resistant fibres.
  • Test the elasticity: when you gently stretch the fabric, it should quickly return to its original shape, a sign of its quality and durability.

10/ What does the ply of a cashmere mean?

The ply of a cashmere determines its thickness and weight. The more plies a style has, the warmer and denser it is. However, this has no impact on the quality of the fibre, which depends above all on its fineness and length. A 2-ply cashmere, light and breathable, can be worn all year round, while 4-ply pieces or more are ideal for winter. Some styles can reach up to 24-ply, offering ultimate comfort in the coldest temperatures.