Cashmere sweaters are prized for their incredible softness, comfort, and elegant look. This combination of comfort and style has turned a fabric traditionally from rural Central Asia into a cosmopolitan luxury good.
What Sets Cashmere Apart?
Cashmere is considered a type of wool. Unlike regular wool, usually taken from sheep, cashmere comes from cashmere goats. The best material comes from the softer undercoat. Shearing and separating the finest materials is time-consuming, contributing to the fabric’s higher price.
What to Look for in Cashmere
The softness of cashmere is determined by something called “microns,” a unit of measurement used to describe the fineness. The lower the number of microns, the better the quality of the cashmere. Grade A cashmere has 14-16 microns. Proper Cloth uses a super-fine 15-micron thickness in our cashmere.
Proper Cloth’s Cashmere
Proper Cloth offers an incredible range of cashmere sweaters, but they’re all connected by the cashmere. The entire collection is 100% cashmere from the legendary Scottish mill Todd & Duncan. Sourced sustainably from nomadic Mongolian farmers, we exclusively use the ultra-fine, ultra-soft 15-micron thickness.
Cashmere Sweater Styles
Cashmere Crewneck Sweater
The Cashmere Crew is a classic staple. It’s incredibly versatile, pairing well with sneakers and jeans as easily as it pairs with a sport coat and loafers, and It looks elegant over a dress shirt for those colder days in the office.
Cashmere V-Neck Sweater
Some people have strong opinions on the v-neck (a funny opinion piece from Vogue on the topic). We’re fans. The neck opening creates an elegant line that looks great alone, with a t-shirt underneath or with a dress shirt. Like its crewneck cousin, Proper Cloth’s V-Neck Sweater is easy to dress up or wear casually.
Cashmere Full-Zip Sweater
The full-zip offers a sportier design and some underrated ease. If you spend time on your hair in the morning, the full-zip allows you to add or subtract a layer throughout the day as your temperature changes without having to reach for a brush again. The full-zip looks great with jeans and layered over a t-shirt or dressed up over a buttoned shirt. Because you can zip it all the way up or down, you can adjust your look within a single outfit.
Cashmere Half-Zip Sweater
Proper Cloth’s cashmere half-zip provides a balance between athletic and luxurious looks. The half-zip (called a quarter-zip by some brands) gives a relaxed and casual vibe, while the cashmere material and craftsmanship suggest luxury. The look leans a little more casual, so sneakers, jeans, chinos, and polos all go well. That said, you can wear it under a sport coat or even with a suit and tie.
Cashmere Turtleneck Sweater
The dynamism of the turtleneck cannot be understated. The soft material and high neck create an incredible coziness, suggesting a more relaxed personal garment. At the same time, turtlenecks can look very sophisticated, especially when worn under a sport coat or with a full suit. Proper Cloth’s Cashmere Turtleneck Sweater looks great tucked into chinos, untucked with jeans, or worn with a suit for a holiday party.
Cashmere Hoodie
A hoodie is not something you often see in the cashmere sweater category. However, cashmere is such an incredibly soft material, and since the hoodie provides full coverage and warmth, pairing the material with the sweater style made sense. The unique cashmere silhouette looks great with leisure wear like drawstring pants, but you can also style it with chinos or even dress pants for an unexpected look.
Caring for Cashmere Sweaters
Dry Cleaning Cashmere Sweaters
You can dry-clean cashmere sweaters. But, it’s best to do this sparingly because they are made from delicate materials, and dry cleaning uses powerful chemicals. If you take it to the dry cleaner, it’s worth mentioning to the cleaner that the material is cashmere.
Washing Your Cashmere Sweaters at Home
Cleaning at home is a safe and less expensive alternative to the dry cleaner. You can hand wash them or use your washing machine’s “delicates” setting. Explore using a delicate detergent on sweaters and knits. Use cold water and lay it flat to air dry. It’s good to reshape the garment as it dries to maintain the structure. You can learn more about caring for all Proper Cloth garments here.
Storing Cashmere Sweaters
We tend to think of nicer garments getting a hanger while less fancy clothing goes in drawers. With sweaters, it’s best to fold them to avoid the weight of the sweater stretching out the shoulders and neck. You can give your cashmere sweaters extra protection by storing them in air-tight bags or plastic bins during warmer months to keep out smells, moths, and general wear.
If you have questions on styling or care, we’re always here to answer questions. If you’re looking for knits and sweaters beyond cashmere, check out our full collection which also includes silk, linen, wool, and unique blends.