A natural material of great nobility, cashmere is prized for its softness and thermoregulating qualities. But not all cashmeres are created equal! To make a high-end cashmere jumper or scarf, the raw material must naturally be of exceptional quality. This rare cashmere wool is highly sought after for its durability, softness, and unique thermoregulating abilities. But how can you recognize high-quality cashmere? And where does this exceptional wool come from, and what are the steps involved in crafting a perfect Bompard cashmere jumper? All the answers to your cashmere questions can be found in this guide!
How is cashmere made?
Bompard cashmere comes from the Capra hircus goat, raised in its natural habitat in semi-wild conditions on the Himalayan highlands of Ladakh and Tibet.
It is in this beautiful natural environment with its particularly harsh climate (temperatures drop to -50°C in winter and reach +45°C in summer) that these traditional farms flourish, maintaining their ancestral traditions.
Cashmere fibre comes from the goat's undercoat, a particularly soft and silky down, protected by thicker guard hairs, the top hairs.
Every year in April, when the weather turns warm, the goats shed their hair: to lighten their thick down, the craftsmen delicately comb the fibre, which is known to be particularly fine, long, straight and smooth. A guarantee of quality to obtain soft cashmere ply, which is resistant to pilling. Combed, spun and dyed, the knitwear is then knitted. Besides the ancestral savoir-faire of the craftsmen, specific techniques are used depending on the desired result.
What is cashmere fabric? Is cashmere wool?
Cashmere is a type of wool. But an exceptional wool. To obtain this designation, the wool must be rare, produced from goat hair with a diameter of no more than 19.5 microns and contain 30% more down than hair.
While a sheep produces about 3kg of wool each year, a cashmere goat produces only 200 grams on average.
Why is cashmere so expensive?
Cashmere the most precious material in the clothing industry. Because it is rare, as we shall see, and not only that.
THE SCARCITY OF THE RAW MATERIAL
Cashmere normally comes from goats living in nomadic herds, primarily in Mongolia, China and Iran.
Maison Bompard selects herds from Inner Mongolia for the unrivalled quality of their hair. Only a very small part of this hair and down, mainly located under the neck, is collected and then sorted by hand, in order to retain only the finest fibres. It is extremely fine and very rare: between 15.5 and 16 microns, i.e. more than three times finer than a human hair.
Each goat produces about 200 grams of wool every year. When you consider that it takes 600 to 800 grams of wool to make a perfect cashmere pullover, it is easy to understand why this exceptional quality is so rare. This is why it is so precious, and must be treated with the utmost respect and handled with care.
A MATERIAL THAT REQUIRES A HIGH DEGREE OF TECHNICAL SKILL IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESSES
Fine, pure, and delicate, the cashmere fibre is sturdy and very demanding: working with it requires expertise and savoir-faire, both during the harvesting process and in its treatment before dyeing and knitting. The Eric Bompard design office works with the whitest fibres: their purity means that a colour palette of exceptional richness and depth can be created.
The density of each ply means that the knitting is tight, resulting in cashmere garments of exceptional quality. Thus, there are different types of cashmere depending on the nature of the fibres harvested and the techniques used to make the garments.
Why buy cashmere clothing?
From scarves to cashmere blankets, from coats to socks, cashmere covers us from head to toe and wraps around us with an inimitable sensation. Cashmere clothes the whole family and babies are among our best ambassadors, so much so that they appreciate the softness of our baby hat, our cotton and cashmere hat, a sublime cashmere baby suit. Or our perfect choker, which will protect your little one from the cold for years to come. Durable as well as stylish.
Here are some other reasons why it's worth buying cashmere clothing for each member of the family.
Cashmere has exceptional durability
Unlike other types of wool, such as sheep's wool, which is cheaper but also wears out more quickly, quality cashmere knitwear is resilient, strong and can even be repaired. Choosing a beautiful piece of cashmere is a way of creating a long-lasting wardrobe, with top-of-the-range pieces that will stand the test of time and endure through the ages!
Cashmere is renowned for its softness and perfect fit
Cashmere fibres are softer because they are very fine and soft. Knitted together very finely by the Bompard workshops, these fibres can express all their softness and do not lose their shape. The perfect finishing of cashmere creations and the impeccable fit of our luxury fabric bestow an elegance and comfort all the more desirable because they are known to last.
Remarkable thermoregulatory properties
The structure of cashmere fibre endows it with unique thermoregulatory properties. Depending on the techniques used to make the fabric, the result is an incredibly cosy cashmere winter pullover which can be up to eight times warmer than a woollen pullover, but is still very light. Other superpowers include: its ability to repel moisture, helping to maintain a constant temperature and comfort even when the temperature soars. Yes, cashmere clothing items are also great in summer. Whereas the cashmere-wool blend offers exceptional drape for loose garments, the 100% cashmere is transformed into "extrafine", light like voile when knitted using our innovative techniques. From this rare knit, combining density and finesse, we create pullovers, cardigans and accessories that can be worn like a second skin in any season.
A material that can be easily maintained
Cashmere loves water! And, contrary to popular belief, the more it is washed, the softer and more supple it becomes. Provided, of course, that certain rules for caring for cashmere are followed to ensure that it retains all its qualities over time. Have a look at our care guide for cashmere to keep your favourite garments looking good.
Cashmere has exceptional durability
Unlike other types of wool, such as sheep's wool, which is cheaper but also wears out more quickly, quality cashmere knitwear is resilient, strong and can even be repaired. Choosing a beautiful piece of cashmere is a way of creating a long-lasting wardrobe, with top-of-the-range pieces that will stand the test of time and endure through the ages!
Cashmere is renowned for its softness and perfect fit
Cashmere fibres are softer because they are very fine and soft. Knitted together very finely by the Bompard workshops, these fibres can express all their softness and do not lose their shape. The perfect finishing of cashmere creations and the impeccable fit of our luxury fabric bestow an elegance and comfort all the more desirable because they are known to last.
Remarkable thermoregulatory properties
The structure of cashmere fibre endows it with unique thermoregulatory properties. Depending on the techniques used to make the fabric, the result is an incredibly cosy cashmere winter pullover which can be up to eight times warmer than a woollen pullover, but is still very light. Other superpowers include: its ability to repel moisture, helping to maintain a constant temperature and comfort even when the temperature soars. Yes, cashmere clothing items are also great in summer. Whereas the cashmere-wool blend offers exceptional drape for loose garments, the 100% cashmere is transformed into "extrafine", light like voile when knitted using our innovative techniques. From this rare knit, combining density and finesse, we create pullovers, cardigans and accessories that can be worn like a second skin in any season.
A material that can be easily maintained
Cashmere loves water! And, contrary to popular belief, the more it is washed, the softer and more supple it becomes. Provided, of course, that certain rules for caring for cashmere are followed to ensure that it retains all its qualities over time. Have a look at our care guide for cashmere to keep your favourite garments looking good.
How can you tell if it's a quality cashmere?
There are several criteria that can be used to distinguish an exceptional cashmere from an average quality cashmere. Have a look at the criteria to be considered before choosing your beautiful pullover in cashmere
THE PROPORTION OF CASHMERE
The first indicator for determining the quality of a cashmere pullover, for example, is the proportion of cashmere that is included in its make-up. 100% cashmere is the best option against cold weather
THE QUALITY OF THE COLOURS
Only the purest cashmere is used to achieve deep, vibrant shades. Our incredible colour palette of over 2000 shades from 100% natural dyes is like a tribute to this fibre of exceptional quality. We select the whitest possible, to allow our colours to bloom fully.
THE BRAND
There are many brands today that offer 100% cashmere garments, but very few that value this material, respect this product and handle it with the infinite care it deserves.
For 40 years, Maison Bompard, the leading responsible cashmere brand, has been committed to the sustainable development of cashmere with the OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 et OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN labels.
THE QUALITY OF THE KNIT
It is also fundamental and linked to the quality of the fibre and also to the knitting technique: for a durable, supple, incredibly soft garment with a perfect fit, the Bompard workshops use a tight knit and double thickness ply that are twisted and densely bound together. The fibre is held in place, and will not twist, shed or pill.
AN INCOMPARABLE SENSATION
A cashmere of quality has a smooth matt finish. A shiny cashmere may indicate a mixture with synthetic materials. A rough cashmere (even slightly) is generally a sign of low-quality wool and/or a mixture with less refined materials.
If, when rubbing the garment, you notice electrostatic phenomena, it probably contains polyester or acrylic: 100% cashmere does not produce static electricity.