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The Heritage
From Ancient Caves to Global Fashion
Cashmere Heritage:
A Sneak Peek into the History
The name Cashmere itself is derived from the Kashmir
The first documented evidence of cashmere’s existence can be traced back to the renowned explorer Marco Polo. In his 13th-century chronicle, ‘The Travels of Marco Polo,’ he recounts his encounters during a 24-year stay with the Mongol emperor Kublai Khan. Among his fascinating discoveries were cave paintings in Mongolia. The carvings hinted at the long-standing tradition of raising goats for their exceptionally warm wool. This encounter, recorded by a human hand, adds a personal touch to Cashmere’s history.
The turning point in cashmere’s history came in the 18th century when enterprising traders recognized the potential of imported woolen shawls from Asia. English and French trading companies, hungry for exotic goods, fueled the demand for these luxurious shawls. During this era, a single cashmere shawl could easily exceed the cost of a horse carriage. Cashmere became a symbol of ultimate luxury, adorning the shoulders of royalty. Queens and empresses draped themselves in voluminous cashmere capes and cloaks, making it a symbol of their wealth and status.
When these shawls and capes, once a practical necessity for warmth, were transformed into a symbol of luxury and fashion, the shift in perception marked the beginning of cashmere’s global popularity.
The Making
From mountains to boutiques
High up in the mountains of Kashmir, where the heavens seem almost within reach, a tradition stretches back to millennia.
Hircus goats evolved to develop a remarkable defense mechanism to face dramatic temperature swings. Beneath their longer, coarse outer coat lies a hidden treasure: a thick undercoat, also known as the duvet. This undercoating is made up of incredibly fine and soft fibers, acting as a natural thermal insulator to protect the goats from scorching summers and bone-chilling winters.Interestingly, the harsher the climate, the finer the cashmere fibers become.
The secret to cashmere’s luxurious quality lies in its incredibly thin fibers – around 15 microns thick. These microscopic marvels contain air pockets that provide natural thermoregulation and breathability.
Harvesting this precious yarn reflects the delicate balance between humans and nature. In the spring, when the weather warms, shepherds use a gentle “combing” technique. They brush the goats’ undercoat, particularly under the chin and belly, with a small comb to collect the thickest, softest fibers. This painless process yields a modest amount – just 150-250 grams of undercoat per goat annually. This limited quantity, coupled with the remarkable properties of the fibers themselves, is a key factor behind cashmere’s high value.