Is Cashmere Warm For Winter? (What’s Warmer Than Cashmere)
Being warm is best when winter rolls around the cold weather slows everything down. It is harder to maneuver on cold days that is why wearing the right fabrics for winter makes everything better. The warmer you dress the better you can function.
Is cashmere warm for winter? Yes, cashmere is warm for the winter. It is said that this fabric is 8 times warmer than wool. It is hard to find a fabric warmer than cashmere but some people claim that material made from alpaca the warmer of the two fabrics.
To find out more about how warm cashmere is and how good it is for winter, just continue to read our article. It has researched the subject and gives you the facts that you need to know.
Cashmere Warmth 101
Cashmere for Winter
The cashmere is very warm for winter. In fact in a head to head competition cashmere beat merino wool and cable knit wool for warmth. Its 8 out of 10 rating wasn’t even matched by other fabrics in the competition.
Also, cashmere is supposed to be 8 times warmer than regular wool. Those factors tell you that it is a great fabric to wear when the temperatures dip. On top of that, you get the top-shelf comfort you always wanted in winter clothing.
Cashmere is the go-to material when you are enduring a cold winter. The only problem is that the best cashmere you can buy to keep you warm is also very expensive.
If you can afford it then treat yourself to something nice. The good thing is cashmere helps keep you cooler in warmer temperatures. The money you spend on this fabric for winter stretches through the other 3 seasons.
Is Cashmere Warm When Wet?
It is okay if cashmere gets a little wet. You will not lose any of that warming power that material has to offer you. When it is wet you might smell a little bit like a wet dog but no one will notice any BO odor as the smell doesn't get that bad.
If you get caught in a rainstorm, try to keep your cashmere clothing from getting soak. The fabric can absorb water and become very heavy on you when it does. After that happens you will have to worry about a couple of other factors.
For example, gravity and the weight will combine and help stretch your cashmere out of shape. It is best to make sure the day has no chance of rainstorms when you want to wear your cashmere outfits. A little rain won’t hurt cashmere.
Why is Cashmere so Warm?
One answer to that question is that it is because of the source for the cashmere fiber. Cashmere comes from what is called cashmere goats and these goats live in extreme temperature geographical locations.
Those locations are found in the Himalayas, Nepal, and Kashmir. With the extreme cold to deal with the cashmere goats produce a very natural fine, warm and soft under fleece. That under fleece is then sheered and turned into cashmere clothing.
Another reason is that the cashmere fiber has a unique insulation system that knows when it is hot out and when it turns chilly. It is hard to explain but this insulation system is one reason why you stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer even though you are wearing the same cashmere garment.
Then cashmere lasts a long time if properly cared for. You get the benefits of this material for years if you are careful.
What keeps You Warmer Wool or Cashmere?
Wool may score better in looks than cashmere but that is because cashmere is usually made in a monochrome color scheme and wool can use different colors for its different clothing items.
But that is about the only place where wool trumps cashmere. Cashmere is said to be 8 times warmer than wool as well as being able to be worn when the weather heats up. There is just no competition when it comes to which fabric is warmer than the other.
Plus, cashmere layers quite well. You can be fashion-forward while staying nice and warm all winter long. Also, wool tends to err on the side of itchiness. So even if it does look better, you won’t be as comfortable wearing that fabric as if you wore cashmere instead.
Get softness, comfort, and warmth by opting to wear cashmere over wool.
What's Warmer Cashmere or Fleece?
There seems to be some debate over this head to head comparison. Some people say fleece is warmer and that it would take a 6 ply cashmere sweater to match the warmth fleece gives you. That sweater would also retail for over $1000 if you went for it.
Then others claim that nothing beats cashmere for warmth. It also looks better and is more comfortable than fleece so even if it wasn’t more people would choose to wear cashmere just for the styling.
With fleece-lined or cashmere lined gloves and other articles of clothing, fleece is usually the winner. Not only because it is cheaper but because it will last longer then cashmere. The latter fabric lasts for about 2 years then you need new gloves.
The winner of this comparison will be up to your preference but cashmere probably has the edge over fleece.
What is Warmer Cashmere or Alpaca?
They may have found a better fabric than cashmere. It comes from an animal labeled as a cousin to the camel and llama and they live in the Peruvian Andes. The people of Peru have been making winter clothing out of their alpaca wool for centuries which tells you that it is a material worth looking at.
According to some experts, alpaca fabric is softer and warmer than cashmere. Hard to believe but it may be true. It is a hypoallergenic fabric that pills less than cashmere does. The long fibers that make alpaca wool contribute to the extra warmth you feel.
The bad news is that alpacas are rare. There are only about 3 1/2 million of them compared to over 700 million cashmere goats. If you want to wear alpaca wool then expect to pay a dear price for the privilege.
Which is Warmer Cashmere or Pashmina?
The one difference between these two fabrics is the name. Cashmere is the word the western world uses to describe the fabric that originates in the Kashmir region of India and Pakistan.
Pashmina comes from the local word pashm which describes the wool retrieved from the inner fur of special goats found in the Tibetan region. Much like cashmere is but pashmina is carefully combed, washed, and spun into a lighter and softer fabric than cashmere.
Cashmere is thicker than pashmina wool so the obvious answer to the question is that cashmere is warmer. Pashmina is usually used for shawls, scarfs, and not sweaters or other winter clothing.
Also, pashmina is rarer than cashmere which probably makes it more expensive to buy than the latter material. The former material is also harder to weave due to all the steps involved in creating a top pashmina fabric.
Is Cashmere Warmer Than Cotton?
If you thought there was no competition between cashmere and wool, then this is even worse for cotton. Cotton is not known for its ability to keep people warm without putting on lots of layers.
On a scale of 1 to 10 for warmth, cashmere came in at 8 while cotton came in at 1, well below the 6 two kinds of wool achieved. So yes, cashmere is a lot warmer than cotton when it comes to keeping someone warm for the winter.
Cotton is easier to clean than cashmere which may be a reason why many people still wear it when the winter months hit. But the best thing to do with your cotton sweaters and blouses, etc., is to put them away sometime in the Fall and do not get them out again till Spring starts to warm the area up again. It may be expensive but cashmere is the way to go throughout the winter season.
Do Cashmere Gloves Keep You Warm?
They can and most cashmere lined gloves do a wonderful job in keeping your hands nice and warm. But there is one little problem you should know about before you run out and buy a couple of pairs.
Cashmere lining only lasts for about 2 years. The reason for that is that the fabric is delicate and the friction against your hand tends to run the fibers. That means while you may like those types of gloves, they are not going to be around for a very long time. You will be replacing them every couple of years or so.
A warm alternative would be a fleeced lined glove. It is said that those types of lined gloves not only keep your hands warm, but they also last a lot longer than other linings. If you can’t afford cashmere linings then opt for the fleece. You will stay warm and have money for lunch after a morning of shopping.
What to Wear Under a Cashmere Sweater?
Women have a lot more options when it comes to wearing something underneath a cashmere sweater. They can wear shirts, blouses, shirtdresses, T-shirts, camis, underwear and a lot more. You can even add a bow tie if the cashmere comes in a V neck style.
For women, the sky is the limit as to what they can wear underneath the sweater. For men, they have T-shirts, undershirts or a good dress shirt and that is about it. Or you can be innovative, think outside the box and push the envelope and create your own under the sweater style.
Some people wear nothing when it is appropriate to do so. The choice is going to be yours to make as you have to wear the outfit all day long. Just make sure that it fits the situations you will be in while you wear your choices.
Facts About Cashmere
Getting a few facts about this fabric will help you decide if you will buy it, what to wear with it and wear to wear it. Knowing the fabric also helps you design some great sewing and craft projects
- 1. Cashmere is combed from goats that originate in Kashmir, Nepal, and Tibet. It is an animal that is bred in Mongolia and New Zealand now to up production.
- 2. Even though it is a very thin fabric it can keep people warm even when the temperatures hit -40 degrees F.
- 3. To make 1 cashmere sweater it takes the wool from 3 to 5 goats.
- 4. The oldest factory in Europe producing cashmere clothing is in Elgin, Scotland and it opened in 1797.
- 5. one cashmere goat only produces about 4 to 6 ounces of the soft under fleece used for cashmere in one year.
- 6. Cashmere only comes in three colors- grey, brown and black but the material can accept dyes so you can change those colors if you want.
- 7. Cashmere fiber is supposed t be 6 times finer than actual human hair.
- 8. This fabric was used by Roman nobleman but didn’t catch on with European royal families until about the 18th century.
- 9. There are still families in Kashmir weaving and spinning the fabric by hand.
Some Final Words
If you want to stay warm while at the office or out on a special occasion, then you will want to wear cashmere. Anything warmer than that fabric may be too expensive to purchase.
This is a great fabric that lets you wear it all year round and remains one of the uttermost comfortable fabrics you can purchase today. Stay warm and go with cashmere, you will be glad you did.
