Why So Expensive?
Hey there, are you wondering why real cashmere is so expensive?
Yes, we mean real, 100% cashmere of the highest quality (we can talk specifics later)...
Are you curious if a more expensive cashmere is going to be worth the investment in the long run?
Or should you just go with the cheapest cashmere suppliers on the market.
Let's break it down.
There's a couple of factors that determine the quality of your cashmere, and that's going to directly affect the oftness and durability of your finished product.
The cheaper "budget" brands are cutting corners when it comes to quality standards.
So what are we doing that the biggest beans (like Hermes and Neiman Marcus) are doing too, and that the cheapest brands just aren't doing at all.
For starters, Our yarn is farmed in Inner Mongolia, and the materials are OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified. That's just a fancy way of saying our cashmere is free from harmful chemicals that can cause itchiness and irritation.... Are those other cashmeres OEKO-TEX certified? Often not.
Further, the cashmere yarns used in our production are produced by a member of the 'Sustainable Fiber Alliance'. That means we're committed to production that is sustainable, good for people, animals, and the environment
And the production is ISO 9001 Quality Management, and 14001 Environmental Sustainability Management certified, in their cashmere yarn production, so all of that is nice. It sure doesn't hurt.
Then we transport these highest quality yarns to Nepal, home of our cofounder, where the most talented cashmere weavers still practice the art of hand weaving.
Yes, all of our cashmere is handwoven the traditional way, not mass produced by machines....
So what, who cares if it's handwoven or machine-woven?
Well, we're going to guess that most of the cashmere you've bought (even those $600+) sweaters start pilling after just a few wears. That's because of 2 reasons. If we had to guess, they are using lower quality cashmere threads to start. Their "cashmere" fibers measure >15.5 microns in diameter... GROSS!
And then they take their thicker cashmere fibers and run them through machines that simply can't handle the fibers as delicately as they should be handled. That means that it's already worn down by the time you get it, and it's going to start falling apart before the end of the season...
By comparison, our cashmere fibers are all less than 15.5 microns in diameter, AND they are carefully handwoven in a way that actually ensures the finished cashmere garment will retain it's shape, get softer with time, and be much more resistant to pilling....
Plus, it looks way better! It's quality you can see and feel.
The Nepalese artisans have a very unique way of handknitting cashmere that was passed down by their ancestors.
We could use machines too.... But our conscious, and standards,won't allow us to compromise on that quality....
With a lot of cashmere these days being mass-produced by machines in China, this ancient method of handmade production truly is a lost art.
We also pay our workers fairly, enough to create economic prosperity in their homes and communities... Not a big deal, but in a third world country like Nepal, our workers are extremely grateful for the opportunity.
Still, we manage to offer you our handmade, AAA Grade 100% cashmere products at an affordable price.
If you're not sure where to start, you might want to check out our super soft and versatile, one-size-fits-all, reversible beanies....
Then, try out some gloves to match...
Until next time,
Ciao.
Yes, we mean real, 100% cashmere of the highest quality (we can talk specifics later)...
Are you curious if a more expensive cashmere is going to be worth the investment in the long run?
Or should you just go with the cheapest cashmere suppliers on the market.
Let's break it down.
There's a couple of factors that determine the quality of your cashmere, and that's going to directly affect the oftness and durability of your finished product.
The cheaper "budget" brands are cutting corners when it comes to quality standards.
So what are we doing that the biggest beans (like Hermes and Neiman Marcus) are doing too, and that the cheapest brands just aren't doing at all.
For starters, Our yarn is farmed in Inner Mongolia, and the materials are OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified. That's just a fancy way of saying our cashmere is free from harmful chemicals that can cause itchiness and irritation.... Are those other cashmeres OEKO-TEX certified? Often not.
Further, the cashmere yarns used in our production are produced by a member of the 'Sustainable Fiber Alliance'. That means we're committed to production that is sustainable, good for people, animals, and the environment
And the production is ISO 9001 Quality Management, and 14001 Environmental Sustainability Management certified, in their cashmere yarn production, so all of that is nice. It sure doesn't hurt.
Then we transport these highest quality yarns to Nepal, home of our cofounder, where the most talented cashmere weavers still practice the art of hand weaving.
Yes, all of our cashmere is handwoven the traditional way, not mass produced by machines....
So what, who cares if it's handwoven or machine-woven?
Well, we're going to guess that most of the cashmere you've bought (even those $600+) sweaters start pilling after just a few wears. That's because of 2 reasons. If we had to guess, they are using lower quality cashmere threads to start. Their "cashmere" fibers measure >15.5 microns in diameter... GROSS!
And then they take their thicker cashmere fibers and run them through machines that simply can't handle the fibers as delicately as they should be handled. That means that it's already worn down by the time you get it, and it's going to start falling apart before the end of the season...
By comparison, our cashmere fibers are all less than 15.5 microns in diameter, AND they are carefully handwoven in a way that actually ensures the finished cashmere garment will retain it's shape, get softer with time, and be much more resistant to pilling....
Plus, it looks way better! It's quality you can see and feel.
The Nepalese artisans have a very unique way of handknitting cashmere that was passed down by their ancestors.
We could use machines too.... But our conscious, and standards,won't allow us to compromise on that quality....
With a lot of cashmere these days being mass-produced by machines in China, this ancient method of handmade production truly is a lost art.
We also pay our workers fairly, enough to create economic prosperity in their homes and communities... Not a big deal, but in a third world country like Nepal, our workers are extremely grateful for the opportunity.
Still, we manage to offer you our handmade, AAA Grade 100% cashmere products at an affordable price.
If you're not sure where to start, you might want to check out our super soft and versatile, one-size-fits-all, reversible beanies....
Then, try out some gloves to match...
Until next time,
Ciao.
