Cashmere: The Diamond Fiber
Cashmere is a specialty textile fiber that forms in the undercoat of the Capra Hircus goat. The goats live in the Himalayas, produce a particularly fine wool that is soft and warm to protect it from the harsh Himalayan winters. The soft inner hairs are a natural insulator – cozy in winter, cool in the summer. Once the sun warms the thin mountain air in the spring, the goats begin to shed their delicate inner hairs, making it easy and painless to comb the hairs off the goat. The “diamond fiber” of the inner coat, also known as pashmina, is what the Capra Hircus is most prized for.
Once combed, these fibers are then meticulously separated from the coarser hairs by hand. The selected wool is then washed, dried, and run through a machine that further purifies the wool. Then the wool is run through a dehairing machine, further separating the thicker wool from the finer wool. Dehairing is not necessary for other wools, and is a process only used for pashmina. The result is a refined, powdery river of very thin fibers, less than 17 microns in diameter. This makes the cashmere wool less than 3 times the size of a regular human hair. This is fine wool.
The fine wool is then spun over spinning wheels. Once the spun yarn is twisted, we have pashmina cashmere threads of various thickness, ready for weaving.
Weaving is a highly skilled task, not made a bit easier by the delicateness of the fine cashmere threads. Various different methods are deployed, depending on the product desired.
Handloom weaving is the most traditional method of weaving together the fabrics. A time-consuming labor, the handloom allows for highly versatile and detailed work – without the need for electrical power.
Modern manufacturers may also use power looms for their efficiency, speed, and consistent quality.
At the weaving stage, other materials may also be incorporated into the fabric.
100% pashmina cashmere is the ultimate luxury. Yet often a 70/30 mix with silk is used to enhance the shine and strength of the finished product. Other fine fibers and mixes can also be used to meet diverse demands.
Once we have weaved together the fabric, then we begin the knitting process.
We use hand-guided knitting for products such as mufflers, knit caps, and blankets. Hand-knitting is a standard procedure that is executed with focus and finesse.
We take the utmost care to ensure our pashmina cashmere products are stitched into shape with passion and precision.
The cashmere products may come in natural colors, or they can be dyed to many different shades and patterns.
This wool product owes everything to the constant care and commitment of those involved in the Nepali pashmina industry.
From collecting pashmina goat wool, sorting it, and spinning and weaving it. To knitting and finishing it into a finished product, there is much involved in delivering this fine luxurious fiber to the world.
