Cashmere

[Nell799]

I'm thinking about treating my mum to some cashmere this Christmas (either a pashmina or a cardigan), as she mentioned that she could not afford something nice like that when we were out the other day.

Looking at some of the well known shops mentioned previously on MN, the price tags can be very expensive!

Has anybody used Pure Collection, or Willow Cashmere? And if so, what is the quality like?

Does anybody have any recommendations that are not as expensive as Brora?

I only have a scarf in cashmere so dont really know anything about it.

I have quite a lot of cashmere, mainly from John Lewis but my mum bought me a 100% cashmere v neck jumper from Tesco! Florence and Fred I think the range is called, she bought it for me a couple of Christmases ago and it's still lovely.

I only very rarely wash my cashmere stuff, which I think helps a lot

I have a few things from Pure, and the quality on the 100% cashmere stuff is really good.

I agree that washing it infrequently is the key.

Pure have a sale on at the moment, and there was a 25% off discount code kicking around somewhere which I used about 6 weeks ago. I don't know if it is still valid.

You can get genuine pashminas for just a few pounds on eBay - Ive bought from overseas sellers that are ridiculously cheap and they are fab.

J Crew have just started shipping to the UK and their cashmere is the best I've found. If it's a scarf/wrap you're after ten Cos have a beautiful one for £69.99 in lovely colours. Banana Republic did a divine one last year for the same kind of price. I got my mum one and she's used it all year as a scarf/wrap/blanket/pillow on flights etc.

I second the F&F/Tesco recommendation...better than M&S in my experience.

Thanks for the recommendations so far.

Alibaba - How are the items from Pure packaged when they arrive?

In tissue paper.

The 'cashmere' scarf I got off Ebay via Hong Kong had never been near a grazing animal of any kind. It was only £3.99 so I was not hugely shocked

Just a warning if you're thinking of going down that route for a pressie.

Pure is thin and not great IMHO.

I have some FAB John Lewis jumpers, really lovely quality and still going strong 2 years later. Cost around 50 or 60 for a jumpe or cardigan, quality on par with Brora.

M&S is o.k. but shrinks a bit so buy a size up. (or not at all)

I also love www.mypashmina.co.uk good prices, good cashmere.

"cashmere" on e-bay for a few quid won't be cashmere, but maybe 100% cashmina or 100% pashmina or similar which doesn't mean a thing. The term "pashimina" is not protected, and even if an item has only 2% cashmere it can be market as a "cashmere product" to unsuspecting customers. Not the real thing at all.

The best shop for cashmere is Tk Maxx.I have just bought a lovely cashmere scarf in swirly pinks and purples for less than 20 pounds.Theres a fair bit on the online site too.Don't put your cashmere away dirty though.If you put cashmere away unwashed at the end of winter it will probably be moth-eaten.The moths are more attracted by dirty cashmere.Its better to wash in a mild shampoo or even on a cold wool cycle in the washing machine.Use cedar balls to prevent damage while storing.

Even when it says it's 70/30 cashmere/silk? like this
The scarf I got has lasted really well and is incredibly warm. It never occured to me it might not be genuine when it was described as such (70:30)

Another vote for TK Maxx. A local one seems to have loads of casmere jumpers etc. I have a cashmere scarf from M and S. Never washed and still going strong three years down the line. Check out Johnsons site for cashmere.

Madame, in materials it says "70% pushmina 30% silk"! fine for 3 quid though!

I'll get my coat

Any hing I've bought from mypashmina has been been fabulous quality.

I'm sitting here in a John Lewis cashmere cardy, 10 months old, and it is thin and pulled into holes. Really shit quality. A shame, because the style is lovely.

Sorry, that should be "anything". Gah.