Cashmere and Alpaca

From the farm to the finished product.

How Cashmere is Made?

Cashmere is obtained from the hair of the Capra Hircus, a breed native to the Tibetan plateaus in the Himalayan region. The harsh winters in these areas (with temperatures down to -40°C) have equipped the Hircus goats to survive with a double-layered coat, particularly dense and warm.

The goats have a coarse and thick outer coat, called the “giarre,” and a soft, fine undercoat, the “duvet.” Cashmere wool is obtained by combing the undercoat.

The processing takes place in spring, when rising temperatures cause the coat to shed, becoming more “summer-like.” During this period, using a special hooked comb, the finest part of the hair is collected and removed. This procedure is repeated several times, producing a mixed undercoat that is later further sorted to select the best fibers.

The Processing Cycle

After rigorous selection, the fibers are washed. They do not undergo any dyeing treatment; they are only sorted according to their natural color, resulting in a completely natural product.

After washing, the fibers are spun.

Next comes the weaving or hand-knitting process, after which the softness and quality of the precious fiber can be fully appreciated. Finally, the garments are crafted and finished.

Each goat provides about 150 to 180 grams of raw fiber after roughly 3–4 hours of combing, still to be sorted. To understand how much work is required, consider that producing a single scarf requires around 200 grams of pure fiber.