What is cashmere?

The word ‘cashmere’ comes from an old spelling of Kashmir. Cashmere, a fibre obtained from cashmere and other goats is fine in texture, soft, light and strong. Cashmere goats produce a double fleece – a soft undercoat mingled with a coarser outer coating called guard hair. The underdown is separated from the guard hair by a process called de-hairing. The resulting cashmere is then dyed and converted into yarn, fabric and garments. Garments made from it provide excellent insulation.