Best men’s cashmere sweater FAQs
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How should I wash cashmere?
Cashmere is a very delicate material that’s prone to shrinking, so you’ll want to pay close attention to the washing and drying instructions. Generally, care instructions for cashmere include hand washing with cold water and air drying. The safest way to go about it is to dry clean it, and ensure it never goes in a dryer machine.
What’s special about Grade-A cashmere?
Cashmere is graded into three categories of A, B, and C. Most luxury brands exclusively use Grade-A cashmere. These are absolute thinnest hairs, measured in microns, harvested by combing the undercoat of a cashmere goat. Grade A cashmere has a width as low as 14 microns, which is about 6 times thinner than a strand of human hair. The higher the micron count, the lower the grade of cashmere.
What does “gauge” mean?
A cashmere’s gauge describes the number of rows of yarn in a sweater’s fabric per inch. The tighter the weave, the higher the number. When sweaters are described as made with “12 gauge cashmere,” for example, this means it’ll be lightweight and finely knit. If you’re after a thicker knit, a 3 gauge cashmere will feel warmer and more dense.
How do I prevent pilling?
While some grades of cashmere are more susceptible to pilling than others, all cashmere (and wool) garments will inevitably pill to some degree. Rather than picking at pills with something harmful like tweezers or scissors, it is recommended to use a sweater stone or a cashmere comb.
How do I prevent moth holes?
Cedar is a natural alternative to chemical-filled mothballs. Cedar products are great for repelling moths, spiders, and absorbing odor and moisture (which promotes mold and mildew). You can use cedar hangers, cedar blocks, or cedar rings.
Moth larvae have a diet that’s high in keratin, so female moths are attracted to materials like wool, cashmere, silk, and sometimes even leather and fur (basically anything that comes from an animal) when it comes time to lay their eggs. Clothing made from synthetic materials or cotton should remain safe (unless it’s blended with a material that has keratin in it).
Moths are also attracted to food and stains, so if you spill something on your cashmere, you shouldn’t put it back in your closet with plans to wash it before your next wear; you should clean it as soon as possible. Not only will it make getting the stain out easier, but you’ll reduce the chances of moth holes.
