How well does cashmere really wear? (Thread probably should be subtitled Am I Mad To Consider Spending This Much On a Jumper?)

[LemonGrapefruit]

I have a few expensive handbags but usually keep clothing at the Zara/& Other Stories level with the odd segue into John Lewis.

However, I saw a jumper in a more expensive shop and loved it. Price tag was just under £2000 so I asked myself what I was playing at even going into the shop and left.

I have now found said jumper online 50% off. Still a grand which is insane. But. I still love it.

(I appreciate someone will be along to tell me that I can get the same in Primark.)

It's 100% cashmere. I'm not sure I've ever owned a 100% cashmere jumper. How well does it really wear? I know it'll be dry clean only or hand wash cold - do not wring - do not hang - lay it flat - recite poetry to it whilst it takes a week to dry on the floor...but is there anything else I'd need to know?

I will not be identifying said jumper in case someone else is as mad as me and buys the one that's left. You'll just have to take it from me that it's gorgeous😀

Most of my knitwear is cashmere - I can’t be doing with itchy wool. I’d say it’s not hard wearing at all - I’ve had to mend the elbows, cashmere socks wear through in no time. But easy enough to care for cold wool wash with soap. Dry flat. I would not spend £1000 though, I’m much too clumsy and I’d spill something on it. Also be aware moths love it’

yes to it going bobbly have an electric defuser that works a treat

I agree. I actually prefer merino and lambswool and £250 - £400 or so is what I would pay for non high street UK produced and made in UK woolens. I wouldn't expect cashmere at those prices.

And agree if I were thinking of spending £1,000 on cashmere it would be at Johnstones of Elgin, Begg or similar, not a fashion brand

I have cashmere jumpers that date from the 1960s and are in perfect condition. As pp said, it's the long fibres that tend to have less bobbling.

If you are serious about buying decent cashmere and don't turn your nose up at second hand then eBay is a happy hunting ground. Always buy Scottish knitwear, read up on the reputable manufacturers. Sadly most have gone out of business now but their clothes have often lasted. I would never buy cashmere made in China, however posh the label.

Cashmere is easy to care for using handwash methods above. If it shrinks a bit it can be restretched with care.

I agree wholeheartedly with pp above...don't even think about bringing cashmere into a house with moths. It's guaranteed to make you cry eventually.

I do have some jumpers I saved last time we had moths. They have been washed, frozen, baked in the oven, sealed in plastic bags, you name it. They are OK at the moment but I've seen a few moths lurking around this year so now it's WAR again. This week my cashmere is being put into bin bags and put in the back of our estate car to roast.

BTW I would never pay more than about twenty quid for a second hand cashmere jumper! No point asking for trouble.

Cashmere is wonderful - light, but extremely warm, BUT has to be handwashed, it does bobble horribly, and isn't very hard wearing. But worst of all moths LOVE it, and all the lavender and anti moth substances won't save it I'm afraid. I wouldn't spend the money if i were you.

I tumble dry my cashmere😲 to dessicate the moths eggs etc,it works really well but the cashmere needs to be completely dry.

Moths love cashmere

I have a number of cashmere jumpers. To be honest they are everyday wear in the winter because they are warm and light weight but feel amazing. My best buys have been good old M&S which don’t seem to bobble much. I wash them on a delicates or wool cycle and always use softener. I never tumble dry, I had to give a lovely camel one to my smaller sister when DH shrunk it accidentally . But on the whole they are easy to care for.
The best thing about them is that they are the only layer you need under a coat even on the coldest day because of the insulating properties.

I had that kind of money I would spend it on a coat, not a frigging jumper!!

Have you tried alpaca. It is warmer than cashmere and I find it does not pull like cashmere. Try Peruvian Connexion of Spirit of the Andes.

I mean pill not pull

I love cashmere but it is not hard wearing and will absolutely be trashed if one of the helpful people in your house mistakenly puts it in the machine at the wrong temperature or in the dryer. I have lost 7 that way, so I would never spend that much on one.

A lot of people are saying cashmere always bobbles. Only if poor quality and that’s because cheap cashmere uses fibres which are very short. At this price that’s not likely.

Losing 1 maybe, but 7?! That’s incredible/ careless.

I keep my “precious” items separate and wash them myself!

I love cashmere but moths love cashmere about as much as I do so I just don't think I could risk it for that much money.

I have a lot of cashmere, some expensive (not £1k+ though) and I wash it all on the wool wash with Woolite and dry flat. No damage so far and some I’ve had for over. 25 years!

Yes, subject of many epic rows in this house. Whenever someone says something about anything unreasonable I do (there are many things) the answer is always 'cashmere'.

What if it got nibbled by a clothes moth or caught on a doorhandle? I think it’s good to buy good things if you can afford it. But £1000 is way over the price top. I’m sure you can get decent cashmere for 200 ish.

Do it.

I spent £250 on a dipped hem, navy cashmere jumper in COS in autumn 2023. I wear it all year round. It is washed regularly, debobbled if needed (maybe twice)

It still looks immaculate. I must have worn it 300 times. Maybe more as I was poorly in summer 2024 and wore it in July and August too.

Expensive good quality cashmere doesn’t bobble and wears incredibly well. I got one for my 18th birthday that I wore regularly for over 20 years. Most modern cashmere is bobbly and holes easily- m&s, John Lewis etc.
The one you’re looking at - is it proper quality (3 or preferably 4 ply, not made in china), or just a designer brand that you’re paying for? That should be the deciding factor… designer brand does not always mean quality with cashmere

And cashmere washes better than lambs wool, will happily go in a wool cycle in a washing machine

I must have 50+ cashmere jumpers. I've been collecting for years and I take care of them. I really feel the cold, I'd estimate I wear a cashmere jumper 300 days a year, I have lighter ones for summer.

Good quality cashmere doesn't bobble, and even if it does a cashmere comb will sort that out. I had a debobbler but I find the comb better. I store mine individually in ziplock bags, the XL size from the supermarket easily fits a jumper. I pop a cedar ball in each bag. Lavender works too, moths don't like strong smells apparently.

I machine wash mine on the wool cycle but beware of brushed cashmere which is very fuzzy, that has to be dry cleaned. Mine was donated to a lucky toddler after I found that out the hard way!

If you love it and can afford it then why not? You'll still be wearing it in decades.

I honestly think cashmere wears & washes well.
I can't wear wool as I'm allergic to it but Cashmere is in my opinion far less likely to shrink in the wash.
I wash mine in a wool wash with delicate detergent & never dryclean for environmental reasons. Sometimes I tumble dry heavier items for up to 5 mins, never more. I've paid up to £300 for good brands, but always buy them discounted at Tk Maxx. I wouldn't pay £1000 for one sweater. I have a good debobbler that's very efficient and not too much of an issue. Any holes or tears are repaired by our local tailor. Some of mine is 20 years old. I also have a pair of Tesco's black cashmere wide leg pants from years ago that are still in perfect condition & surprisingly good quality.
I have had one brushed cashmere jumper shrink after a machine wash but my Jaeger one was fine. Good thing because I managed to open a fresh tub of turmeric powder all over it.

People who machine wash your cashmere, can you recommend your washing machine? I have to choose a new one soon. I sometimes handwash then spin, but have never dared do a wash programme.

I love this site. They give great advice on where to buy the best quality cashmere and what to avoid - might help drive your decision if you know your investment will last.
https://www.instagram.com/nearlynewcashmere?igsh=MWpvZGJiczQ2Yjd3cA==
If you can afford it, do it - I personally think that life is too short sometimes and you just have to go for it. I've never regretted buying something (I think is) beautiful.