How do you wash a cashmere sweater?

Firstly, when it comes to washing a sweater in such a fine and somewhat fragile material as cashmere, you should ask yourself whether you need to wash the sweater at all, as a wash considerably wears the garment. If the sweater smells a little, you can air it outside for a couple of hours.

However, if you feel that the sweater is too dirty, you should of course wash it. Ideally, it should be hand washed to minimise the risk of damage and shrinkage. This applies to most types of garments that are made of wool. Always follow the washing advice on the label.

How to hand wash cashmere clothes

1. Fill up some lukewarm water in a tub or in the sink, adding mild wool detergent suitable for fine materials. Avoid common detergents and fabric softeners, as they do more harm than good to wool garments.

2. Let the sweater sink into the water and wring it out gently, so that the dirt is worked out of the garment.

3. When the water starts to look dirty, it is time to change it. Repeat the process until the water does not feel dirty after washing.

4. Finish by wringing out the sweater in a water bath without detergent to rinse it out.

5. Pick up the sweater and place it on a towel and gently roll it up, to squeeze out any excess water.

6. When you have squeezed enough water out of the sweater, it is time for it to dry. Ideally it should be left to dry on a flat surface. Place it on, for example, a towel and straighten it so it gets its right shape. If you hang the sweater to dry, there is a risk that it will lose its shape.

7. Finally, enjoy a clean and fresh sweater.

How to care for cashmere garments

When buying a cashmere sweater, the motto "you get what you pay for" applies very literally in this context, there are many levels of quality. The price depends on how much cashmere was used when the garment was knitted, how many layers the garment was knitted in, but above all the quality of the cashmere used.

Cheaper cashmere still feels comfortable to wear, but usually has shorter wool fibres, meaning it is not as durable as a higher quality cashmere, which features longer wool fibres. Furthermore, there are of course a number of other factors affecting the price such as country of manufacture and brand, but for cashmere sweaters in particular, the material quality is more often than not parallel to the price level. Cashmere itself is a relatively delicate material, which requires you to take care of the garments you own to keep your cashmere sweater in top condition. It may not be the most durable material, but the price you pay for a cashmere sweater gives you one of the most wonderful and comfortable wearing experiences you can imagine.

Regarding care, we can quickly point out some short, simple but very important basic rules:

1. Always store your cashmere sweater folded flat on a shelf or in a box. We recommend that you do not hang it on a hanger, as this may distort the garment.

2. Air the sweater often after use, rather than washing it. If it gets dirty, gently wash the specific area around the stain if possible, instead of washing the entire garment.

3. After you have washed your sweater according to the manufacturer's instructions, always dry it lying flat on a rack or on a bath towel on a table. Do not use a drying cabinet or any other heat source.

Wearing a cashmere sweater directly against the body, without an t-shirt or shirt underneath is very comfortable but wears harder on the garment. Wear the sweater over a white cotton shirt, unbuttoned at the neck for a casual appearance. When wearing your cashmere sweater, it may be good to keep in mind the coarseness of the garment you are wearing on top of the sweater, and how much it risks rubbing on the cashmere sweater.