A simple guide to choose, care and store correctly your cashmere knitwear.
Let's be honest: authentic high quality cashmere knitwear isn't easy to find, and if it's expensive there is a reason. Surely, our made in Italy knitwear with Grade-A Mongolian cashmere is no exception to this rule.
On the other hand, if we are talking about cashmere, we are talking about unique garments, fashion creations that must be carefully chosen, entertained with the right ways.
In this case, our cashmere garments will last a long time, withstand the test of time, and will become real staples of your wardrobe. We think of our cashmere as an investment in absolute beauty and quality.
For these reasons, to help you choose the right garment, we have decided to put together a special corner within The Yurt, a guide to the choice, treatment and storage of your favorite cashmere.
How do you recognize and choose high quality cashmere?
It is necessary to do some research, and first of all understand how cashmere is created, where it comes from and which supply chain it encounters before it reaches your hands. This will be the first important discriminant of a responsible and eco-sustainable choice.
So, from these aspects will come the price. We know that cashmere is a luxury product, and with very specific characteristics, in terms of purity and objective quality. It is therefore clear that the higher the price, the better the quality of the garment.
Quality itself will be given by the purity of the yarn, not being mixed with other fibers. Then, consider the weight of the garment and its color way. Generally speaking, the heavier the better, the lesser colored, the merrier, as it won’t be treated with various bleaches. Just like a NUN1970 cashmere creation, for example.
So, if you’re looking for the softest cashmere knitwear, keep in mind its fiber’s purity, its weight and color way. The less treated and worked, the softer.
Once you have chosen, you’re the happy owner of a long-lasting item.
How to wash and dry cashmere knitwear to make it last longer?
Common question: "Is it OK to wash cashmere?".
Or again: "Will it shrink if washed?".
And then: "Once washed, how do you dry cashmere?"
How many times have we heard questions and doubts about how to wash and treat cashmere to safeguard its qualities and characteristics for as long as possible? Doubts are legitimate.
Since the fiber is very soft and delicate, we must certainly apply a lot of care in treating it, the same that is used for other types of wool, although here we are dealing with the queen of wools.
In reality, just follow a few simple rules.
1. Always check the garment's care label.
Trivially, each garment will have its own label with precise indications for care. In the case of NUN1970 cashmere creations, on each garment an NFT code will tell you its story, the supply chain it comes from and some simple tips for taking care of it. Follow the instructions, the rest will come accordingly.
2. Delicate machine wash ...
If you want to use your washing machine to clean your cashmere knitwear, it is very important that you use the gentlest program available to you.
Usually, the cycle corresponding to hand washing will do for you, and the water temperature will not exceed 30 degrees Celsius (or 86 ° F, to be precise).
Turn the garment inside out, do not use particularly aggressive detergents, but neutral, and immediately remove from the tumble once the program ends. Absolutely avoid drying in the machine.
3. Or hand wash to protect the cashmere fibers?
Really hand washing is the ideal solution to protect your garment to the maximum. The delicacy of the fibers will be preserved by the delicacy of manual treatment. Just fill a basin with lukewarm water, using delicate detergents (for example a neutral hand wash detergent, or even a neutral shampoo for babies).
Turn the garment inside out and leave it to soak in the solution for at least 5/10 minutes. This process will be used to clean the yarn, and after this phase it will be enough to rinse it with plenty of clean water, at the same temperature.
4. Never wring cashmere, dry it: tricks to avoid shrinking.
The main terror of those who wash cashmere is that it gets damaged, or shrinks, following a wash. Therefore, the most delicate phase after washing is drying.
Once we have rinsed our garment, we should never wring it out like we might with a cotton garment - otherwise the fibers could shrink.
To eliminate the excess water that remains between the fibers, we can use two different towels, in two successive steps.
Step one, we spread a towel and on top of this we lay down our cashmere. Then, we gently roll the towel and cashmere together, starting from the bottom of the garment, upwards. In this way, we will eliminate excess water without "stressing" the fibers. The item of clothing is delicate, the treatment must be delicate.
Once this first drying step has been completed, with the excess water partially absorbed by the towel, we unroll everything. We gently take the garment back, and give it back its original shape, laying it on a second towel, obviously dry, on a flat surface, to complete the drying process.
We try to take advantage of a dry environment, perhaps heated, but away from any sources of heat and direct sunlight. Outdoors is the best option, in case you can.
5. Steaming or ironing, that is the question.
In principle, ironing a cashmere garment is a no-go. Otherwise, all the effort made to preserve the fibers will be thwarted by a simple gesture.
On the contrary, the recommended technique to eliminate creases and restore vigor after drying is steaming. Use your steam iron for the final touch, without resting on the cashmere, but simply "sprinkling" on the fabric.
Magically, the fibers will breathe and everything will be clean, smooth and soft just like it just came out of the factory.
How to treat and store your cashmere knitwear: little tips for a long life.
One of the further differences between cashmere and other types of fibers is their preservation. Contrary to other fabrics, cashmere requires additional care, even in the apparently simplest phase, namely its daily use or entry into our wardrobe.
As absurd as it may sound, you must never wear a cashmere garment two days in a row. On the opposite, let it rest for at least one day, airing it on a flat surface outdoors before wearing it again. Indoors airing will be fine too, just make sure to avoid direct sunlight and heating, as per the drying part.
Never hang your cashmere knitwear, this is the golden rule. The very weight of the garment on the hanger, no matter how delicate and loose, will deform the fabric, and alter the original design.
Hence, this will imply deformed shoulders, elongated sleeves and altered silhouette from non-misuse. So how do you go about it? Simply, fold your garment following its shape, and store it in a clean and dry drawer, or on a shelf in your closet.
If your storage is more than temporary, such as putting away the garment at the end of the season, always take an extra step: make sure that the cashmere has been well washed and dried first (essential for the well-being of the fibers before long storage. period) and put it in an air tight container.
Make sure you add cedar chips inside this, and seal tightly. Adding the cedar balls will help prevent moths and retain any moisture, to prevent bad odors at the end of the storage period.