Cover Story
How to care for your cashmere
Extending the lifespan of your pride and joy winter wools.
2 Minute Read
Cashmere. The iconic fabric has long been praised for its warming tendencies, unwavering style and commendable longevity. Luxurious and practical, the cashmere jumper deserves frequent and well-styled wear. But that longlasting quality takes some clever care and maintenance to uphold, and performing at its very best.
Your cashmere wardrobe mainstays are worth preserving
Polished, ultra-soft and inherently ‘special’, your cashmere wardrobe mainstays are worth preserving. Whether it’s a cashmere-wool blend coat, a grab-and-go scarf or an everyday sweater, an affair with cashmere is one of lifelong love, and should never be treated as a fling.
You may be wondering why cashmere is such a premium fabric. Unbeknown to many, cashmere is actually made from goat hair — a special Himalayan Mountain Range Goat in fact, once discovered in Mongolia and then bred across the world in pursuit of cashmere woven from its wool. This means cashmere takes time to create, and love to maintain. One jumper’s fabrication can take around four years of natural hair-shedding from a golden goat, which allows for some perspective.
Cashmere takes time to create, and love to maintain
Harrolds is proud to stock a suite of cashmere marvels that deserve to be cared-for and well-kept in the discerning shopper’s everyday winter wardrobe. Perhaps you’ll gravitate to the simplicity of Tom Ford’s lightweight silhouettes, opt for a turtleneck courtesy of Fear of God, or dial up the drama with a feather-collared cashmere cardigan from Magda Butrym.
Cashmere works of art can be long-living garments, passed down from generation to generation, if cared for right. Here are some of Harrolds’ well-honed tips on caring for the wonder-wool, so that you can enjoy your new cashmere pieces for longer:
1. Most natural fibres benefit from infrequent washing. The natural oils in cashmere have built-in antibacterial qualities, which means cashmere stays fresh after multiple wears. Washing too often may wear down the cashmere fibres and reduce the lifespan of your garment.
2. When your cashmere really does need to be washed, go for a cold, gentle machine or hand-wash with a delicate detergent.
3. Fold your cashmere, never hang. Like all knitwear, your cashmere will stretch and lose shape if it is placed on a hanger.
4. Pilling is an inherent characteristic of all-natural fibres. It doesn’t indicate the quality of your cashmere, but rather authenticates it. To remove pills, simply lie the garment flat after washing, and use a cashmere comb or garment bristle brush to brush gently in one direction. Taking the time to complete this process is so worthwhile — your garment should look as brand new as the day you bought it.