Delicate, fine, heavenly, soft, feather-light and whatnot! Cashmere feels like pure luxury. It is that one category of goat hair that had the world spellbound all of a sudden. 

It all happened in 16th-century Kashmir when a saint visited the valley from Persia. He discovered a different kind of fleece in the Ladakh area and gave an order for a pair of socks to be crafted. As soon as the socks were ready, the saint found them to be exceptional in their quality. It was super soft, fine, light, and extraordinarily warm. At once he raised he had found a treasure. He gifted this pair of socks to the then king of Kashmir, who too was surprised by its unique and luxurious disposition.

Manufacturing and processing units of this fine goat fleece were set up during this time, and since then, there is no looking back. Cashmere was sent from Ladakh in huge quantities, and highly skilled Kashmiri artisans processed it to make fibre. The best use of Cashmere was the making of Kashmiri Pashmina shawls, which spread across boundaries like wildfire. From local royalties to European kings and emperors, the world was fascinated alike. 

What is Cashmere?

Cashmere is the downy undercoat of a rare goat which inhabits Ladakh. The goat grows the fleece naturally to survive the harsh freezing cold that the area experiences. In winter, as the temperatures dip to minus 40 degrees, nature bestows Cashmere on the goat, which in fact becomes the only reason it survives in such harsh conditions. 

Winter has gone and Spring has started. And Spring season is the moulting season for the goat. The goat naturally sheds some portion of this luxury wool, as a part of hormonal changes in its body. When summer arrives, the wool makes the goat more and more uneasy, and it responds by rubbing its body hard against walls, stones, bushes and other rough surfaces around. This is the time when its body is to be freed from the wool. Hence professionals visit the area and gently comb off all the fleece from the body of the goat. This wool is packed into small packets, after a basic cleaning process, which is manual. 

Processing the fine wool

Semi-clean wool reaches Kashmir, where further cleaning starts. Post this, lumps of raw wool are spun over a wooden spinning wheel manually. This transforms rough wool into yarn, which is just 12-15 microns in diameter. This yarn is handwoven over hand looms and transformed into the famous Pashmina shawls, stoles, scarves or simple large sizes of plain fabric. 

Products made from Cashmere can last for a lifetime. A Pashmina shawl lasts for over 25 years and doesn't lose a tad in its looks and grandeur. However to achieve this, one has to buy pure Cashmere and then take proper care of it. Shopping from authentic sellers, and buying certified Cashmere is necessary when it comes to investing your hard-earned money in Cashmere.

Also read: WHERE IS PASHMINA GOAT FOUND?

How to care for Cashmere?

Caring for Cashmere isn't really difficult or complicated. It is like caring for any other wool type, just some extra precaution. Here is a step-by-step guide you need to follow if you want to keep your Cashmere fresh and new forever. 

How to clean a Cashmere scarf?

Many people, who do not know how to clean Cashmere, often hand over their precious products to the laundries, which might be the easiest and safest way to clean them. But at certain times, you might need to wash your Cashmere at home. Prepare yourself for it. Here’s how.

• Fill a tub with tepid water, and pour some Cashmere shampoo into it
• If you do not have a Cashmere shampoo, you can pour a mild baby shampoo instead
• Give this soapy concoction a good mix to blend the ingredients together
• Soak your Cashmere wrap into this mixture for 30 minutes
• After 30 minutes, take it out and rinse it with cold water now
• DO NOT WRING your Cashmere to get rid of the extra water
• Instead, make a ball of it and gently squeeze the water

How to dry this delicate fabric?

Now that your Cashmere is clean, it's time to dry it. Never ever use dryers to dry Cashmere. Instead, let your precious beauty air dry.

• Place the wrap flat over a dry towel
• Roll the towel tightly so that it absorbs the water
• Open the roll, and replace the wet towel with a fresh, new, dry towel
• Let it stay there for a while, flat, and let it air dry
• Do not use any artificial methods to dry Cashmere. Do not hand Cashmere from rangers, or you will disfigure it forever. 

How to iron it?

If the wrap has caught some wrinkles during the washing process, you do need to iron it before further use. 

• Never use the iron directly over the surface of the wrap. Instead, place a cotton or silk fabric in between and then only iron it carefully
• It is better to invest in a steamer. Steaming the wrap is the best option to remove wrinkles and elongate the life of your wrap. 

Storing Cashmere

It's time to store Cashmere, after drying it, if the season of its use is over. It is better if you wash your Cashmere season to season. Washing it every now and then will wither it too quickly, and reduce its age

• Fold your wrap properly and place it on a tissue paper sheet. 
• Do not use plastic to store or wrap Cashmere as plastic traps moisture, which invites moth, in turn, ruins this timeless accessory
• Make sure the place where you are storing it is dry, clean and disinfected. 
• Place some moth balls around the area where you plan to store your Cashmere. 
• Always store your Pashmina clean and washed. 

These are some simple tips and tricks to make your Cashmere a lifetime companion. Make sure you read the care and instructions that come with the wrap. Cashmere is fine and delicate. In case you are not sure about if you can handle all this at home, then call your nearest laundry services. Because you don't want to lose your favourite wrap to an accident at home, Do you?

Also read: MEN'S PASHMINA VS WOMEN'S PASHMINA