This page has been created by our Head Washing Manager for those who want to know more in-depth the characteristics of 100% Cashmere yarn and the right washing and storage methods.


Generally it is thought that 100% Cashmere, given its high cost, must be a very resistant yarn and easy to handle during the washing and drying phase, but instead we try to understand what are the main characteristics of this yarn to grasp its beauty and delicacy.

First, we quickly distinguish the difference between carded wool (100% Cashmere) and worsted wool (100% Merino).
Long and fine wools are destined to be combed and transformed into tape during the spinning process.
During this phase the fibers are first parallelized and then wrapped on themselves, thus eliminating the short fibers and obtaining a yarn very resistant to deterioration, 100% extrafine merino wool.

The short wools are instead carded, that is, contrary to the previous system, the fibers are not made parallel to each other, but crossed in every direction.
The result is a very full-bodied yarn, but nevertheless less resistant and thin, this is 100% super-soft Cashmere.
To give you an example, the 100% Cashmere fibers are so thin that their diameter is 80% thinner than the thickness of a human hair; this is why this yarn is so difficult to manipulate and weave.

Although it is a fine yarn, Cashmere can manifest the tendency to form superficial wool balls called ‘pilling’ (attention, however, if the problem is created on the whole jersey is a problem of working, while if the pilling is present only on areas exposed more easily to rubbing, this is the characteristic of carded yarns).
The pilling is therefore caused by the continuous rubbing of the very small surface fibers that escape from the wire because they are not completely fixed by the torsion.
In the realization of a 100% Cashmere jersey we must compromise.

We are always faced with the dilemma that requires choosing or between favoring softness (thus giving more flexibility to the formation of pilling), or tightening the yarn more, to prevent the release of the fibers that the continuous rubbing generates the dots.
The closer the thread is, the more the final effect of the shirt will be less soft and swollen.

On the contrary, the use of a swollen, soft and light yarn, obtained with a few twists, will lead to the creation of a delicate jersey, which will ruin in a short time.
We prefer to make a medium / high twisting to favor the durability and stability of the garments.

ENZO NICOLETTI