PURE Cashmere

For twenty years, our passion has been to provide the most luxurious, super-soft, high-quality cashmere in beautiful contemporary styles. 

 

PURE Quality

There are three recognised grades of cashmere used by manufacturers; Grade A, B and C. The grade and quality are determined by the length and fineness of the fibres which can vary due to the region from which the cashmere is sourced, the age and type of goat it comes from and the season the cashmere is collected. At Pure we only use Grade A cashmere.

 

Most goat breeds can produce downy hair in varied quantities and may be called Cashmere goats, but the best cashmere comes from animals that live in Inner Mongolia, high up in the Himalayas where it gets extremely cold in the winter. This produces a need to grow the longest finest hair. The goats have an outer coarse 'guard' hair that protects the downy soft cashmere undercoat, The cashmere hairs are hollow and very fine, so they trap air which keeps them really cosy in the cold climate. The colder it is the longer the undercoat will grow.

 

Goat To Garment 

Our cashmere comes from the white Capra Circus goats found in Mongolia. Their fibres are collected in a tradition that dates back centuries. The fleecy underbelly of the goat is gently combed by hand. This is done during the spring moulting season, resulting in a relatively small yield and scarcity. It takes eight goats to produce enough of the finest, longest Grade A fibres to make one of our sweaters. This ensures a dense and superior softness to Pure Collection cashmere.

 

Our cashmere fibres are washed to remove dirt and grease and any coarser hair and then dyed before being spun into a yarn. If dyeing is done after it has been spun into a yarn the process causes damage and uneven colour. By dying our fibres first we can ensure a more even coverage of colour and it is the gentlest dyeing process.

 

Our dyed fibre is then spun into a yarn. We use 2ply, which is 2 strands of yarn twisted together creating the perfect density to create luxurious knitwear for you. We use multiple ends of this 2ply yarn for our chunkier knits. Our garments are then knitted by machine into panels to ensure an even stitch. The majority of these panels are then linked together by hand.    

 

Grade A: Pure Grade

The longest and finest fibres create the highest quality of cashmere. The diameter of the fibres can be as low as 14-15.5 microns, with a length of 34- 36mm. This high-grade cashmere will feel the softest and retain its shape even after handwashing, producing a lifelong garment and a true investment.  

 

Grade B:

A thicker and coarser fibre than Grade A, with a diameter of 19 microns. This is still considered a high-grade cashmere but will be noticeably less valuable and durable compared to Grade A.

 

Grade C:

This is the lowest quality grade for cashmere, as the fibres are much thicker with a diameter of around 30 microns. It is much cheaper than the other grades, and not as soft.

 

Check The Label

Read the clothing label. Some yarns are blended with others which should always be made clear on the label. 

If a garment is 100% cashmere it should say so on the label. Do not be fooled by the words ‘a cashmere feel’, ‘cashmere touch’ or ‘cashmere blend’. 

 

Give It A Feel

The highest quality cashmere should have a wonderfully light and soft feel. Try running your cashmere garment under your chin or the inside of your wrist where the skin is sensitive. If the fabric feels rough or itchy it would suggest a lower grade cashmere.