November 2017
Garnet Hill cashmere: from the highlands of Mongolia to you
On a sunny day in July, deep in the grasslands of Inner Mongolia, the temperature tops 100ºF — yet thousands of goats are grazing happily on the open plain. You’d think otherwise given the unbearable heat, but then again, the capital is named Hohhot. Even worse, the winters are long, cold and dry, with temps often plummeting to 40ºF below; factor in the wind chill and frequent blizzards and by contrast, New England’s forecast begins to look like San Diego’s.
What good could possibly come from such extreme weather variations? Only the most sought-after cashmere in the world.
Once a year, these hardy cashmere goats evolve a protective, downy undercoat that keeps them cool in the summer and cozy all winter. By mid-spring, they’re ready to be combed (we can just hear their sighs now). Manual combing is the better method; it’s completely harmless and yields long, pure fibers that reduce pilling (shearing shortens the fibers and contains more of the coarse guard hair). The result is 8–15 ounces of raw cashmere per goat ready to be sorted, de-haired, washed, and eventually spun into soft, pure Garnet Hill cashmere. Depending on the weight of the sweater, it can take a year’s worth of fleece to make just one of our 2-ply cashmere sweaters. For this reason, it deserves special care.
More than half the herd would perish annually until local families of herders began caring for this special cashmere breed. Garnet Hill is honored to support their tradition since 2005.
So, I should not dry clean my sweater. Dipping in cold water is the recommended cleaning method? What about persperation odors under the arms?
Yes, we recommend turning the sweater inside out and placing in a basin of water to loosen any dirt. Odors get trapped in synthetic fabrics, not natural, breathable fibers like cashmere. If you do want to use one, choose a mild, unscented detergent, or baby shampoo, and use a small amount.
Best way to store over the summer?
Despite my best efforts, I still get “pills” on my Garnet Hill cashmere sweaters. How do I remove them?
When washing, always turn your sweater inside out to reduce pilling, and wash in an extra-large mesh bag to avoid contact with other garments.
Pilling is normal for any natural fiber. Cashmere fibers are very light and delicate, so it will inevitably pill, particularly under the arms due to friction. We recommend a fabric comb (found at most yarn shops) specifically designed for sweaters.
I have had cashmere sweaters ruined because of moths. For that reason I store them together, in a plastic tightly sealed zip bag for the summer months. During the season they move to a cedar chest. Is keeping them in the zip bag ok? I am so afraid of losing any more pieces.
Hi Laura, thanks for your note! Storing your sweaters in a plastic bag is fine, however we would not recommend storing them longer than three months because changes in temperature could cause mildew or yellowing of light colors. Keep in mind lavender and cedar are natural moth repellants. Put a few drops of lavender essential oil on a cotton ball and place it with a sachet of cedar chips (avoid direct contact with fabric) in an air-tight plastic container or cedar chest.
I keep disposable razors in my closet. Works great & lots quicker than other gadgets in the market.
I turn the sweaters inside out and add a little hair conditioner to the area to remove odor. Yes, and wash in cold water. The oils from the body will just go deeper into the fibers in warmer temps. Dont forget to pull “block” the sweaters back into shape as well. LOVE me some Cashmere 🙂 ( I prefer Natures Gate herbal hair conditioner)
I just received my cashmere duster. How do I remove the wrinkles from the way it was folded when shipped?
How do I get rid of shipping/packing wrinkles in sweater?
Hi Sharon, We’ve found the best method is to steam it without hanging it on a hanger, which could stretch it. Steam-blocking it is the best method of removing wrinkles from cashmere.
Place a flat piece of cardboard box on an ironing board and lay your cashmere sweater on it.
Fill a steam iron with water.
Anchor the sweater with push pins on the cardboard to keep it flat. Be careful not to stretch the sweater.
Hold the iron approximately 1/2 inch above the sweater. Press the steam button to release a short burst of steam.
Move the iron over the entire surface of the sweater, never allowing it to touch the fiber. Release short bursts of steam as you go. The sweater should be damp, but not wet.
Allow the sweater to dry completely before unpinning it. This can take up to a day, depending on the temperature and humidity level in the room.
Hi Cyndi, We’ve found the best method is to steam it without hanging it on a hanger, which could stretch it. Steam-blocking it is the best method of removing wrinkles from cashmere.
Place a flat piece of cardboard box on an ironing board and lay your cashmere sweater on it.
Fill a steam iron with water.
Anchor the sweater with push pins on the cardboard to keep it flat. Be careful not to stretch the sweater.
Hold the iron approximately 1/2 inch above the sweater. Press the steam button to release a short burst of steam.
Move the iron over the entire surface of the sweater, never allowing it to touch the fiber. Release short bursts of steam as you go. The sweater should be damp, but not wet.
Allow the sweater to dry completely before unpinning it. This can take up to a day, depending on the temperature and humidity level in the room.