Cashmere sweaters & cardigans for men

Cashmere comes from the cashmere goat, more precisely from its fine undercoat, which forms under the coarse top coat in winter. A common misconception is that cashmere comes from sheep or even Angora rabbits - both are false, even though the fibers may look similar. Once a year, usually in spring, the undercoat is combed out by hand instead of shorn so that the sensitive fibers are not damaged.

Only a very small amount is produced per goat, often no more than 150 to 200 grams of pure undercoat per year. This explains why Kashmir is comparatively rare. Historically, the name goes back to the Kashmir region between India and Pakistan, where the fibers were previously processed by hand into fine fabrics.

Yes, in relation to its weight, cashmere warms significantly more than classic sheep's wool. The extremely fine fibers trap more air than coarser wool fibers and therefore insulate more efficiently without making the garment appear heavy or thick. A cashmere fabric can be significantly thinner and lighter than a comparable piece made of pure wool with the same level of warmth.

This makes cashmere sweaters ideal for transitional periods and light layers under a jacket, as they provide warmth without being bulky. Anyone who has ever swapped a thick wool sweater for a thin cashmere sweater usually notices the difference immediately.

Pure, 100% cashmere is particularly warm and soft, but due to the fine fiber structure it tends to pill more quickly and is a little more sensitive in everyday life. With a silk-cashmere mix, a proportion of silk is incorporated, usually between 10 and 30 percent, which makes the fabric more durable and gives it a fine, silky shine. The thermal performance of cashmere is largely retained, while the fabric's drape becomes softer and more supple.

For everyday use, a silk-cashmere mix is ​​often the more practical choice: more robust than pure cashmere, but still significantly higher quality and warmer than pure cotton or synthetics. This is exactly the combination that is found in our silk-cashmere sweaters and cardigans.

Cashmere is easier to care for than many people think. The most important rules: Washing machine is allowed on the wool or gentle cycle at a maximum of 30 °C, alternatively by hand in cold to lukewarm water. Use a pH-neutral wool detergent or a special cashmere detergent, never normal color detergent or fabric softener. Spin at a low speed at most and dry the garment lying flat in the air, not in the dryer, not on the heater and not in direct sunlight, as strong sunlight can fade the color.

To a large extent, cashmere cleans itself: it is often enough to air the garment overnight after wearing it instead of washing it immediately. Cashmere absorbs odors much less than cotton or synthetics, and washing too frequently puts unnecessary strain on the fine fibers. Washing less but correctly extends the lifespan significantly.

In most cases, a slightly shrunken cashmere item can still be saved. Soak the piece briefly in lukewarm water with a little wool detergent or baby shampoo so that the fibers relax again. Then gently pull it into shape, preferably lying on a dry towel, and repeat the stretching several times if necessary without pulling or tearing.

Then let it dry flat on a towel and do not move the piece while it dries so that it retains its new shape. The most reliable way to avoid shrinkage right from the start is to never wash at temperatures higher than 30°C and never tumble dry, as heat is the main cause of cashmere shrinking.

True allergies to cashmere are rare because the fine fibers cause less friction and irritation than coarser types of wool. Many people who react with itching to classic sheep's wool therefore tolerate cashmere without any problems. The cause of skin irritation is usually not the fiber itself, but rather residues of detergent or dyes in the fabric.

If you have a known allergy to wool, you should still do a quick skin test as a precaution before wearing the item of clothing directly on your skin. If you have sensitive skin, it also helps to gently wash the new cashmere piece before wearing it for the first time to remove production residues.