Cashmere. A word that immediately evokes softness, refinement, that weightless warmth that only a handful of materials in the world can offer. But do you really know what cashmere is, where it comes from, and why some pieces last for decades while others lose their shape after a single season?
What exactly is cashmere?
Cashmere is a natural fibre harvested from the undercoat of the cashmere goat, a breed native to the high plateaus of Mongolia and Indian Kashmir. Unlike classic wool, which comes from the fleece of sheep, cashmere is the down that the goat develops to survive the extreme winters of the Himalayas, where temperatures drop to -40°C.
Each goat produces only about 150 grams of down per year. For a coat, you need the harvest of four to six goats. This rarity explains the price. But it doesn't explain everything. The quality of cashmere depends on three crucial factors: fibre length, fineness, and sorting purity.
How to recognise quality cashmere
Fibre length is the first indicator. Long fibres (over 38 mm) interlock better, resist pilling, and retain their shape. Short fibres, often used in entry-level cashmere, come apart quickly — this is what causes those sweaters that pill after three wears.
Fineness is measured in microns. Exceptional cashmere measures 14 to 15 microns, compared to 18 to 20 for classic merino wool. The finer the fibre, the silkier the touch, the more fluid the drape. It's this fineness that gives cashmere its unique ability to be both incredibly warm and remarkably light.
Sorting purity, finally. Raw cashmere fibres are mixed with coarser guard hairs that must be separated. Rigorous manual sorting — the kind practiced by the best spinning mills — guarantees a material without roughness, that doesn't itch, that glides over the skin.
Why made in France cashmere changes everything
Buying cashmere is one thing. Having it crafted in France is another. The difference isn't visible at first glance — it's felt in the wear, season after season. A French workshop masters the cutting technique that respects the direction of the fibre, the hand-finishing that prevents fraying, the silk or viscose linings that glide without catching.
At Coulange, every cashmere coat and jacket is assembled in our workshop by hands that have worked this material for decades. We select long-fibre cashmeres, line them with breathable materials, and guarantee them for life. Because cashmere isn't made to last a season — it's made to last a lifetime.
How to care for your cashmere
Cashmere doesn't wash like cotton. It requires special care, but nothing insurmountable. Hand wash in cold water, with a mild detergent — never standard laundry detergent, which damages the fibre. Gentle pressing in a towel, never wringing. Dry flat, never hanging, never in direct sunlight. And it will reward you for twenty years.
For storage, fold rather than hang — the weight of the garment would distort the shoulders. And protect it from moths with cedar or lavender sachets, both natural and effective.