Cashmere is a natural fiber cherished globally for its unparalleled softness and luxurious feel. It is a highly sought-after textile in fashion and home goods, associated with comfort and elegance. Many wonder about its origins and the unique characteristics that give it such a distinguished status.
The Cashmere Goat: The Source Animal
The true source of this coveted fiber is specialized breeds of goats, collectively known as Cashmere goats (Capra hircus). These animals have adapted to survive the harsh, cold climates of their native regions. They are primarily found across the high plateaus and mountainous areas of Central Asia, including Mongolia, China, Tibet, the Himalayas, and Iran.
Cashmere goats possess a dual coat system, essential for survival in extreme temperatures. The outer layer consists of coarse, protective guard hairs, which shield them from the elements. Beneath this lies a remarkably fine, soft, and downy undercoat, which is the source of cashmere fiber. This delicate undercoat grows thicker during colder winter months, providing natural insulation against freezing conditions.
Distinguishing Cashmere Fiber
Cashmere fiber is distinguished by its remarkable fineness, typically 14 to 19 microns in diameter. For comparison, human hair is significantly thicker, often around 75 microns. This exceptional thinness contributes to cashmere’s characteristic silky, smooth feel, making it gentle against the skin.
Cashmere fiber also possesses a unique crimped texture, with tiny, wavy ridges along its length. This crimping allows fibers to interlock when spun, creating a fabric that traps small pockets of air. These trapped air pockets provide excellent insulation, giving cashmere its warmth-to-weight ratio, keeping wearers warm without adding bulk. The hollow structure of the fibers further enhances insulation and allows for breathability, helping to regulate body temperature.
Harvesting and Preparation
Cashmere fiber collection typically occurs once a year during spring. This timing coincides with the goats’ natural molting cycle, as they begin to shed their dense winter undercoat. Herders traditionally use combing, gently removing the loose, fine underdown with specialized combs. This process separates the soft cashmere from coarser guard hairs.
While shearing with clippers is used for efficiency, traditional hand-combing is often favored for higher quality fiber. Shearing removes both the fine undercoat and coarse guard hairs, requiring additional processing to separate them. After collection, the raw fiber undergoes a multi-stage preparation, including washing to remove impurities and dehairing to separate remaining coarse hairs. This preparation ensures the purity and softness of the final cashmere product.