A brief discussion on the cost,types and certifications of cashmere fabric

How much does cashmere fabric cost?

Cashmere varies widely in price . Wool from cashmere goats that are bred in a megalithic Chinese factory might be low-grade and cheap, but most traditional cashmere producers charge much higher prices. In the cashmere industry as in most parts of life, you get what you pay for, and traditionally-produced cashmere wool is much softer and better overall than mass-produced cashmere.

The grade of cashmere fiber also greatly affects its price. Low-grade cashmere is inexpensive, but high-grade cashmere wool can become incredibly pricey. The higher the grade, the thinner the fibers when it comes to cashmere wool.

What different types of cashmere fabric are there?

different types of cashmere fabric

1. Cashmere wool

Derived from the cashmere goat of the Gobi Desert and Kashmir regions, cashmere wool is very fine and soft but also strong.

2. Pashmina wool

A close relative of the cashmere goat, the pashmina goat produces fibers so similar to cashmere that these two types of fabric are often lumped together.

3. Grade C cashmere

Grade C is the roughest grade of cashmere wool. It is also the cheapest, and it is commonly used in garments that don’t make a lot of contact with the skin.

4. Grade B cashmere

This cashmere grade is somewhat better than C, but it still might be slightly rough or scratchy. Mid-grade cashmere varies widely in price.

5. Grade A cashmere

Grade A cashmere wool is universally expensive, and some types are much more expensive than others. After the first time you touch grade A cashmere, though, you’ll understand what all the fuss is about.

How does cashmere fabric impact the environment?

Cashmere wool has a generally neutral impact on the environment. While some aspects of cashmere’s environmental impact are positive, others are negative:

Positive impacts

Increasing reliance on natural fibers helps the environment. Most synthetic fibers are not biodegradable, which means they remain in the ecosystem for hundreds of years. These fibers are also often toxic, which poses another ecological hazard. Whether the fibers themselves are toxic or not, producing synthetic textiles always results in the production of hazardous waste.

The more we use fibers like cashmere wool instead of nylon, polyester, or other alternatives, the more we reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and protect the environment. Unlike cotton and other plant textile crops, wool doesn’t require pesticides or fertilizers, which makes wool production highly environmentally-friendly.

Negative impacts

As with most animal products, there are concerns about the treatment of cashmere goats. PETA , for instance, is of the opinion that cashmere wool production is on par with genocide, but other voices take a more moderate approach. While it’s true that there are plenty of bad actors within the cashmere wool industry, there are just as many ethical producers. It all depends on who you work with.

Otherwise, cashmere wool does not have a negative impact on the environment. Instead, it provides a vital economic lifeline in a region devoid of any other major world exports.

Cashmere fabric certifications available

There are quite a few organizations that provide certification for cashmere wool:

Sustainable Fibre Alliance (SFA) Sustainable Cashmere Standard

The SCS is one of the newest certifiers of cashmere wool. This branch of the Sustainable Fibre Alliance seeks to develop a new standard for cashmere production that affords proper respect to grassland health, animal management, and other aspects of sustainable wool production. Look for the “SFA” logo on compliant cashmere wool products.

Kering Standard on Cashmere

The Kering Standard isn’t as strict as some other cashmere certifiers, but you do at least have to know the bare minimum about where you sourced your wool to qualify for this logo on your product. Kering oversees the production of various animal fibers and products, and this organization has a thorough process in place for implementing safe, sustainable wool production infrastructure.

Recycled Claim Standard (RCS)

The RCS aims to increase the use of recycled materials in textile products, and this opt-in program allows cashmere producers to let the world know that their products are recycled.

Global Recycled Standard (GRS)

Wool products are surprisingly easy to recycle. The GRS oversees the recycling of dozens of both organic and artificial textile products, and this organization provides cashmere producers with another opportunity to get their products recognized as eco-friendly.