Special Sub-Topic: It's All About Cashmere! Click Here To Play: It's All About Cashmere!

Cashmere comes from the Kashmir goat, or down goat, and can be dyed in a variety of colours, but which of these colours is NOT a natural colour of cashmere?

Dark red. The goats can naturally be white, brown, or grey. After the cashmere is harvested and processed, it is dyed a variety of colours, including dark red, but that colour isn't natural.

Which season does the Kashmir goat normally shed?

Spring. During the winter is when the goats need their coat the most of all, to protect them from the harsh mountain temperatures. So like most mammals, they get rid of that extra warmth during the spring to prepare for summer.

The goat's soft undercoat, or down, is used to make cashmere. The strait, coarse, outer layer is called guard hair. What is the mechanical process used to separate the two fibers?

Dehairing. In China and Mongolia, the down is removed by hand with a coarse comb. In Iran, Afghanistan, New Zealand, and Australia the goats are sheared.

What is a virgin fiber?

New fiber that has not been processed. There are four types of fiber. Virgin fiber has not been processed in any way. Recycled fiber has been reclaimed from a previous garment. Raw fiber has been taken directly from the goat. Processed fiber has been dehaired, washed, and is ready to be made into a garment.

When wearing, about how much warmer is cashmere than sheep's wool?

Cashmere is 8 times warmer. Cashmere is very warm. As previously mentioned, it is because the goats are exposed to such cold temperatures. Cashmere also absorbs water faster than wool.

60 percent of the world's cashmere comes from what country?

China. Cashmere orginated in Kashmir Province, India, which is how the Kashmir goat got that name. In the early 1800s, the Europeans took notice to Kashmir Province, and before they knew it, everyone wanted to own something cashmere! But now cashmere isn't as common in India, most cashmere comes from the high plateaus of Asia, especially China.

High up in the mountains, goats can experience some pretty cold weather. What does the extreme cold weather that the goats endure do to the cashmere?

It makes the cashmere better quality. Harsher the weather, better the cashmere. Cashmere is meant to protect the goat from the weather, so as the weather gets worse, the cashmere has no choice but to get better. Thicker, softer, and warmer. All around, better quality cashmere.

How long does it normally take for a Kashmir goat to grow enough fiber for one sweater?

4 years. Annually, up to one pound of fiber is collected per goat. Only 4-6 ounces of which is down fiber.

On the goat, where does the best cashmere grow?

The belly and throat. The throat and the belly is where the good stuff is. Cashmere comes from 68 different breeds of goat, and from 12 different countries. Sometimes the word "cashmere" is misused, it is sometimes used incorrectly describe any soft wool. In order for the goat fibers to be considered actual cashmere, they must be under 18.5 micrometers in diameter and be at least 3.175 centimeters long.

There are five processes in order to make a cashmere garment. What are the first and last processes?

Collecting and weaving/knitting. First, you have the get the fiber off the goat - so that's the collecting process. Next comes the sorting process, then the dehairing process. After that is the spinning process, then the weaving/knitting process, and then you have a cashmere garment.