Cashmere is a luxurious and fashionable material that is extremely soft, warm and delicate. The fibre is exclusively obtained from cashmere or pashmina goats and is extremely exclusive due to the speciality of the product.
Caring for cashmere garments is a bit different to regular clothing. Due to how delicate the material is, it requires proper care and maintenance to ensure it stays looking and feeling amazing. If properly looked after, cashmere can last you a lifetime.
Due to the warmth and softness of cashmere, it is highly desirable and can be expensive. For this reason alone, it is worth taking good care of your cashmere products to ensure they stay in the best possible condition.
Firstly, you should avoid machine washing at all costs. Washing machines can be incredibly harsh on delicate fabrics such as sheep's wool and cashmere so it is best to hand wash your items.
Hot temperatures and harsh detergents can cause the fibres to shrink and seize, which can ruin a garment. This is due to the fibres being agitated during the spinning, which can cause them to lock together. This is also known as felting and is very hard to undo.
It is best to hand wash your cashmere items in cool water and to use gentle, safe detergents. Many laundry detergents contain ingredients that are designed to break down biological matter.
This is perfect when washing other clothing as it helps to rid them of stains and other dirt and grime, however, cashmere is a natural fibre and washing with regular detergent can cause these fibres to break down over time which can ruin your clothing.
Natural fibres are also prone to pilling over time. This is when stray fibres knot together, especially in areas of high friction, and cause little bobbles or pills to form on the fabric.
Removing these is a great way to ensure your garment stays in pristine condition and can prevent pulls and holes. Taking a sharp razor or pilling device to remove these as they appear is good practice.
When storing cashmere, it is important that you treat it carefully. Cashmere should always be folded neatly and not hung up. Although durable, the material is still delicate and hanging can cause it to stretch which may leave your garment misshapen.
Jumpers and cardigans should be stored and folded neatly in a dry cupboard or drawer. Cashmere scarves can be hung carefully, however, if you have the space to store them folded this may be a better option.
This also means you should never hang cashmere to dry. It is best laid flat and allowed to dry naturally. Using a tumble dryer can cause the garments to shrink as well, so air drying is essential.
If you are worried your cashmere will take too long to dry, you may wish to press it in a towel, or let it lay over a flat surface which has ventilation on both sizes, such as a wire rack, which will allow it to dry faster.
