Problems with cashmere

[pillowmysticals]

I'm presuming it's me? Since it is such a popular material at diverse price ranges..

I have never had a good experience with it. Do you have to pay a fortune to avoid that?
I buy only a few items each year, some in summer, a few in winter, so am not averse to the occasional flutter. But history proves me wring with cashmere. So far over the years I have purchased from Whistles (£170 range), M&S (£100), COS (£150 ish), White Company (£150) and Uniqlo (can't recall).

Considering many of these are still very expensive, almost all of them were problematic even though I took very good care of them. The Whistles for example became unwearable within 2 months, and I only wore soft things over it, kept it in a mothfree bag and tried to avoid it being chafed by anything. Sadly it shed and bobbled badly almost immediately, and now looks like someone indiscriminately attacked with a lady shaver.

The COS example formed two holes at the neck seam, the White Co forming a hole in the back and shedding which made me sneeze. The others just looked fed up quickly and never felt warm. I took care, as said, and very gently handwashed, lied flat, etc etc.

The only cashmere items I have ever had that kept it's beauty is a hat from Brora. This is used constantly through winter, handwashed and thrown around and STILL looks as plush, unbobbled and lovey as it did new.

Any advice? Would you avoid all high street cashmere? I would love a cardi from Poetry but am afraid of the same thing. Is there a price point where it doesn't degrade quickly?

I hand wash in my Miele

lasts beautifully

Hand wash or machine hand wash?

Following as I've bought two cashmere jumpers this year. Haven't washed them yet, but was intending to hand wash.

I always handwash cashmere. I've had J Crew sweaters for 20 plus years but the quality isn't as good as it was. The best cashmere I buy in the sales Ryan Roche and &Daughter.

I used to think it was me but high street cashmere is just a bit rubbish. If you don’t mind looking boxy mens cashmere is better/ thicker. I bought some mens cashmere jumpers from the charity shop and I’ve been wearing them for a month and no bobbles not even under the armpits. I googled and it’d be 545 to buy the same jumpers new (Pringles)

Scottish cashmere has always been the best. Sadly a lot of manufacturers have closed down but I always buy vintage and find it very hardwearing. Always check the origin of the cashmere...if it's made in China I would avoid.

In my (limited) experience you get what you pay for with cashmere. I have some Brora and Johnstons of Elgin. Had them for years and they look great. Also had some M and S and Boden.....which haven't lasted.

I am confused, I always handwash mine, this is the problem. My cashmere looks terrible quickly and it difficult to maintain even with a comb. Some of these were dreadful even before their first wash.
I don't think the washing is the problem here.

@TeaAndStrumpets Thank you, will certainly make a note of that:)

@MrsCat1 sounds like my Brora hat, I had suspected as much. I'm still so put off trying again though...

Anyone any experience of Poetry quality?

Well if not washing, you look after and have tried multiple shops…. It’s a true mystery! 😂

all I can say is I’m a big cashmere fan and no problem here

i use woolite and use hand wash cycle on a very good washing machine on the lowest spin 🤷‍♀️

My question was

do you had wash yourself
or
do you use hand wash setting on machine?

the latter is better for delicates apparently

I'm puzzled by the Whistles cashmere, this degraded before washing, it was that quick! It now looks like a ball of fuzz, not a spot left intact. It seemed to form a 'webbing' over itself, like candyfloss. I appreciate people are going to think it was something I have done to it, but I can only promise I haven't a clue. It is unwearable now after only 3 gentle washes. I have always treated cashmere with kid gloves, as with silk.

I have mentioned how i wash in my op.
in war,/tepid water, gentle soap especially for fine wools, gentle rolling then dry flat in ventilated area. Ive never machine washed any wool apart from socks. I only have a few items so it's no trouble to me.

Another thing I have noticed: My Brora hat is a thick, plush cashmere, it is as good as the day I bought it after a lot of knocking about. I know that it felt different when I bought it compared to my other cashmere, the comparison made the others look thin, webby and rough. I do suspect it is quality not washing.
Also my White Co cashmere felt odd, was also shedding profusely before washing.

I wash mine on a delicates cycle with cold water and Woolite in the washing machine, then reshape gently and roll in a clean white towel, leave on a rack overnight, then unroll and lay flat. It doesn't need a wash every time you wear it though.

I have a bobble shaver but I haven't used it much. If your cashmere develops holes, you can harvest bobbles and use them to fill in holes. (There's a YouTube video showing how iirc). I buy cashmere in my local thrift whenever I find something in decent condition.

I think it is case of buying less but spending more! As someone mentioned earlier a lot of the high street stuff is just not much good. Perhaps raid the Brora sale after Christmas?

I have 2 Scottish cashmere sweaters (we have a tourist shop near us and they have an amazing sale rail) and 2 from Woolovers. I hand wash in something specifically for silk and woollens, then a low spin and dry flat.
Past experience with machine washing hasn’t been good, even though Woolovers stuff is said to be ok for that.

My washing machine is an old American top loader with four very basic settings.

Interesting stuff thanks!

I do suspect bad quality, as i dont wash too often at all, and many of these issues were there before washing.
Honest, if i 'harvested' the pills from my Whistles jumper I could probably make a new one, let along patch over. It isn't even regular pilling, it is a literal layer of webbing and the fibres feel horrible.

I also don’t wash my woollens very often. I’ll wear something lightweight underneath. I’ll check the cuffs and collars and do a general sniff test to decide when to wash.

High street cashmere is awful. At the price points you mention, you will find some merino wool options. Brora is excellent. You get what you pay for. Sadly my experience has been that if it’s less than £500 full price, new in the shops, expect it to be rubbish. Try to buy on sale or 2nd hand.

I am coming around to thinking this too. I have a few merino items that are great. Maybe one high priced item of cashmere when I can afford it, with a view to not replacing for years is the best solution.

What irks me is how expensive the high street is, yet it yields no value for money whatsoever. It is like an illusion, created to sucker in those with less income so that they lose out even more down the line :(

Also, if anyone has experience of Poetry cashmere, I would love to hear. I am not confident enough to test it out.

Cashmere production has gone up hugely and quality has gone down.
When shopping if it is soft and fluffy and gives up fibres to a damp hand, don't get it. As you have discovered with your Bora scarf - quality and long staple matter.

I've given up buying the stuff. I do have one jumper that is 35 years old and a bit tatty around the edges, best base layer ever.

Here's a twitter thread about it
twitter.com/dieworkwear/status/1597339373900824576

Thank you, more people need to read this. It is unfathomably depressing and buying used might be a healthier solution for the meantime. Or just opting out. You have answered my quandary, much appreciated.

I have loads of cashmere, at various price points. All goes in the machine on a wool wash, with a wool liquid detergent and plenty of fabric conditioner. Dried either on wooden hangers or folded over an airer. No problem here (or I wouldn’t have it, I’m too lazy!).