Zegna fabric cashmere

Cashmere

Cashmere is a particularly rare and precious fiber. Annual world production of cashmere is only five million kilograms in fact.

Cashmere fibers are obtained from a certain species of goat, commonly known as the Kashmir goat, which is bred in places such Iran, Russia, Afghanistan, Turkey and India. But the most beautiful and most prestigious cashmere in the world comes from the highlands of Inner Mongolia, in China, a territory with a very harsh climate. Inner Mongolia Cashmere is outstanding for the fineness of its fibers (14 - 15 µ), their length and uniformity and for the particularly soft handle they give.

To protect themselves from the cold, Kashmir goats have two coats: one superficial, of bulky hair, and one closer to the body, consisting of a short, fine and very warm down known as duvet. In springtime, shepherds collect the wool manually using special combs with long teeth. The fibers of the two coats are then separated, because only the duvet makes real cashmere. Each animal provides around 200 grams of fiber, but only half of this can be used to make cashmere yarn.

Up till the early 1900s, cashmere was only added in a small percentage to wool fibers to produce a slightly softer and warmer handle. Technological progress and changes in consumer tastes brought about a gradual increase in that percentage till the advent of 100% cashmere fabrics, which are now status symbols indicating a superior lifestyle. Cashmere fabrics may be worsted or woollen and made in numerous ways, from plain fabrics for blazers and overcoats to patterned fabrics for luxury jackets and suits. A more recent development of cashmere offers super-lightweight versions for spring, characterized by their extraordinary impalpability.