Although the introduction of cheaper cashmere items at the leading retail chains may lead you to think otherwise, strict requirements are imposed on obtaining high-quality cashmere. The fibers must be long enough to provide the desired softness, strength, and luster, and only the hairs from the undercoat of the cashmere goat are usable. Additionally, the cashmere goat can only be combed once a year, yielding about 100 grams of usable fibers. By comparison, a sheep yields about three kilograms of wool per year, and the entire fleece is usable. Only 1% of the total wool production consists of the type of cashmere we love to wear. If that’s not exclusive, we don’t know what is…