The price of a cashmere sweater can range from sub-£100 (S$162) to the high four figures. Are you getting what you’re paying for?
A kilo of high-quality Scottish or Italian-milled cashmere yarn — enough to make two to three basic crewneck jumpers, depending on the ply count — costs about £170. As a rough guideline, any amount over £600 for a jumper is simply mark-up, says Catherine Morrissey, president of New York-based knitwear specialist White + Warren.
When shopping for knitwear, start by weighing it in your hands. Unless it’s designed as an ultrafine layering piece, a jumper should have a nice heft to it — the heavier the jumper, the more yarn used — and should be well-finished around the collars, cuffs and armholes . Avoid knits that feel “soapy” or too soft — tell-tale signs that the fibres have been mixed with acrylic or have been bleached or spun too loosely.
Looking for the most sustainable option? Check the product tags for certifications such as the Good Cashmere Standard and Responsible Wool Standard . Or opt for jumpers containing partly recycled content . If you’re really concerned about sustainability — and want a jumper that will last — you’re better off avoiding cashmere and choosing a hardier material such as organic cotton or lambswool. Cashmere is pricey because it is scarce: Made from the longest, softest hairs under the belly of a cashmere goat, it takes seven to eight goats a year to produce enough material to make one jumper, whereas one merino sheep can produce enough fibre to produce five to six.
Another idea, then, might be to learn what “good” cashmere and wool feels like — and then buy it second-hand.