Do you think cashmere is thin and scratchy these days? (M&S?)

[largeprintagathachristie]

Not a very seasonal style question, but I've online shopped for a couple of Marks and Spencer cashmere things, a jumper and a cardigan, needed for a trip abroad.

My first thoughts on removing the packaging were, is this really cashmere? They look and feel thin and scratchy. Not like the much older cashmere pieces I've still got from M&S years ago.

I also used to buy one cashmere piece from Brora per year, in the sales.

I online shopped for a cardigan in their post Christmas sale. I have the cardigan in the same style already, from years ago and was looking forward to having it in another colour. In a direct comparison, the old cardigan was soft, the new one just seemed thinner and coarser (it went back).

Cashmere is lower quality now, yes.

The global demand for it far outstrips the supply and it's not easy to increase supply. Attempts to do so are very hard on the environment as the goats graze intensely on the Mongolian desert flora.

They're harvesting every scrap they can, including fibres that would previously been considered sub par, in an attempt to meet demand.

Yes. I got a Boden cashmere jumper two years ago. It was good quality and a nice thickness. Ordered different colour, same jumper this year and it's ridiculously thin. It went back.

I've always found it to be scratchy