Sustainable Cashmere: Buying Guide, Care
Cashmere, this precious fiber born from the Himalayan highlands, embodies the perfect alliance between softness and timeless elegance. However, behind this luxurious appearance lies a complex reality where ethical questions and sustainability intertwine. Since 1918, Coulange has championed a vision of sustainable cashmere that honors both artisans and the planet, transforming each piece into an heirloom to pass on. This guide shows you how to recognize a real cashmere quality, maintain it to last for decades, and choose brands committed to ethical production. A philosophy where true luxury rhymes with responsibility.
Understanding Cashmere: An Exceptional Fiber
Cashmere comes from the undercoat down of Capra Hircus goats, harvested manually each spring. Its rarity – a goat produces only 150g of usable down per year – explains its value. Unlike the merino wool, more common and resistant, the cashmere offers unrivaled lightness and eight times greater insulating power. This fundamental difference makes it a noble material, requiring particular attention both in its selection and its maintenance. At Coulange, each fiber is meticulously sorted to retain only the longest strands, guaranteeing softness and resistance.
The Importance of Sustainable and Ethical Cashmere
Opt for one sustainable cashmere goes beyond simple textile quality: it is a committed act. Intensive goat farming has caused alarming desertification in Mongolia, while some workshops still practice “fast cashmere” with precarious working conditions. The ethical cashmere requires: full traceability of pastoral livestock farming that respects ecosystems, fair remuneration for breeders and spinners, and non-polluting dyeing processes. As highlighted in our article on principles of slow fashion, this approach transforms your purchase into support for a virtuous sector.
How to Recognize Real Quality Cashmere
A real cashmere is distinguished by precise characteristics: a fiber fineness of less than 19 microns (a human hair = 75 microns), a minimum length of 34mm ensuring good hold, and a tight weave. Be wary of ambiguous labels (“cashmere blend”) or unusually low prices. Test the material: authentic cashmere does not scratch and returns to its shape after stretching. The Coulange pieces, like this gray cashmere coat, use exclusively grade A fibers, guaranteeing long-lasting softness and resistance to pilling.
Care Guide: How to Wash and Preserve your Cashmere
Wash cashmere requires specific precautions to preserve its nobility:
- Use a neutral pH detergent special for woollens
- Wash by hand in lukewarm water (30° max) without rubbing
- Rinse with cold water, adding a spoonful of white vinegar to fix the dyes
- Drain without twisting by gently pressing between two towels
- Dry flat out of direct light
Avoid snags by storing your pieces folded rather than on hangers. These gestures, detailed in our maintenance secrets, triple the lifespan of your cashmere. 
Sustainable Cashmere Brands: Our Committed Selection
Choose one sustainable cashmere brand involves verifying three commitments: transparency on the origin of fibers, environmental certifications (GOTS, OEKO-TEX), and local production. Among the pioneering brands, Coulange stands out for its manufacturing in Mayenne and its selection of suppliers practicing rotary grazing. Our cashmere cloth jacket T41 illustrates this ethic: biodegradable cupro lining, natural dyes, and lifetime guarantee. For buy sustainable cashmere, favor timeless pieces like this gray women's coat, designed to last through the decades without going out of fashion.
Invest in a sustainable cashmere, is to adopt a conscious elegance that honors the hands that created it and the earth that gave it. At Coulange, each piece embodies this French heritage where artisanal know-how and ecological responsibility combine. We invite you to discover our collection of ethical cashmere, designed to become the treasures of tomorrow, and to deepen your approach thanks to our guide onresponsible purchasing.