How much does a cashmere scarf cost?
"How much does a cashmere scarf cost?"
Here is the answer.
One question has always been asked me by friends, relatives, and potential buyers!!
How much does a cashmere scarf or sweater cost?
I have tried to explain what I have learned for about 20 Years of engagement in the Cashmere industry here in Kathmandu, Nepal.Well, The answer is not so easy.
So many factors are there that determine the cost.
Let's see...
What are the factors?
First!!
Let's see...
What are the factors?
First!!
The key factor is......
Purity and fineness of the cashmere yarn
.
How to know purity and fineness?
How to know purity and fineness?
What does the label tagged by the seller or manufacturer say?
What should the label say?
Here is what U.S. Labeling Requirements for Textile, Apparel, Footwear, and Travel Goods say: about the labeling requirement and format.
Unfortunately,
Not only Cashmere but any kind of apparel sold everywhere is labeled correctly mentioning everything, like the country of origin, fiber content, and care instructions country of origin.
But The problem is:
How to know whether labeled fiber content is right or not?
Here, We have to solely depend on the salesman or store manager.
Or, even if you found sellers' information on their website. You may not see enough proof that satisfies you. So To know the answer, we should know
What is cashmere?
If I write in detail, this post becomes very long. So this post explains another aspect of cashmere in detail. Now, let's start the test. Firstly, The easiest way to find whether it is cashmere or not is to find whether it is wool or not? Well, The question arises here.
Why wool?
Fineness which determines the cashmere fiber is its diameter and length as well.
If the measured diameter is greater or equivalent to 35, then that fiber is carpet wool.
And, Any wool finer than 25 microns can be used to make garments.
So! If we have to classify wool then! It goes like this!
And!
If it is research-based we should go for otherwise our eyes are itself a microscope. :)
Where are you buying from it?
If the scarf and sweater have a designer label, it becomes branded.
In such a case!
A 70x200 scarf may cost up to USD 200
And a sweater more than may cost USD 300
I have given the best possible key to buying a cashmere product. And I hope you guys like it.
Thanks for reading
And have excellent shopping!
Cashmere fiber is a kind of wool. So! it is necessary to find out whether it is wool or not? Pick a small fiber from scarves or sweaters. Burn the fiber!! Wool is a natural protein fiber.
So! It burns but doesn't melt. And stops burning after removing from the fire. It smells burning like a hair or feather. The residue after burning should be a black hollow bead that can be crushed to black powder. This burning test only is not sufficient for identity. There are other things for further identification as well. Here is my blog to know more about other wool properties.
The test we mentioned is a pretest only. let's talk about the final impression that proves it's a cashmere fiber.
If the measured diameter is greater or equivalent to 35, then that fiber is carpet wool.
And, Any wool finer than 25 microns can be used to make garments.
So! If we have to classify wool then! It goes like this!
- Number 4! Carpet wool or Sheep wool,
- Number 3! Lambswool,
- Number 2! Merino wool,
And!
- Number 1 is Cashmere wool.
So! The finest grades of wool fiber are merino and cashmere. But! There are so many thoughts about the diameter of merino and cashmere wool. The fiber having a diameter of fewer than 16 microns is considered cashmere. But ultrafine merino wool has also around that diameter. So! Here, looking at the diameter issue it's hard to differentiate between cashmere and merino. At this point, even an expert can make a mistake. As the cashmere fiber is extracted from a particular type of goat called Capra hircus laniger, so the source from which the wool is collected should differentiate between ultrafine merino and cashmere wool. The cashmere fibers that are obtained from the inner layer of that goat, its softness and warmness can also be different from merino wool. Now!! To conclude this topic, we should say that to be a genuine cashmere fiber the diameter of the fiber should be less than 16 microns and the length between 2-5 cm. Here again to know the diameter we have to go for a microscopic examination.
It's time to say. How much does a scarf or sweater cost? Let's assume the current finest cashmere price is USD 200 per kg. And the finest 70x20 cm stole is 100 grams. Then the production cost is Around USD 20 per scarf. And, If it is a 200-gram sweater. Then 40 USD is the production cost.
So, the Final cost depends on:
- number 1
Where are you buying from it?
- Number 2
If the scarf and sweater have a designer label, it becomes branded.
In such a case!
A 70x200 scarf may cost up to USD 200
And a sweater more than may cost USD 300
Thanks for reading
And have excellent shopping!
on "How much does a cashmere scarf cost?"
