Why Are Some Cashmere Sweaters So Expensive?

Why Are Some Cashmere Sweaters So Expensive?

Here at Ewsca, we love sweater weather. Whether we are opting for light, paper-thin styles to sport solo or chunky knits to layer over crisp oxfords, these chic basics are wardrobe essentials. And the coziest options happen to be cashmere. But, when shopping for these knits, the huge difference in prices can be extremely perplexing. For instance, you can buy a crewneck cashmere sweater from Uniqlo for as low as $49.90, whereas a ribbed cashmere knit from The Row costs $1,690. Why is one option so much cheaper than the other? We are here to get to the bottom of this. Several reasons are as below.

CASHMERE IS NATURALLY AN EXPENSIVE FABRIC.

To give a little perspective, we have to explain that while "polyester is 63 cents a pound and wool is $1 a pound, cashmere starts off at about $18 to $20 a pound." This inherently makes any 100-percent cashmere garment more expensive than a blend or another piece in a different fabrication. But, Cormier thinks that the variance in price of final garments is too much, saying in his opinion, “a nice cashmere sweater will be somewhere between $125 and $200."

QUALITY IS A TRICKY PROSPOTION.

There are three different grades of cashmere in terms of softness: A, B, and C. Grade A fibers are the best and most expensive, meaning they are the finest and thinnest. Grade B is slightly thicker than A, so it is less soft. Grade C is almost double the thickness of Grade A, which is significantly coarser. Unfortunately, cashmere garments never list grades on their labels. You're not going to know what the grade is because the tag is going to say the country of origin and 100-percent cashmere," he explains. Your best bet is to go with how it feels on the hand.

THE THICKER THE SWEATER, THE MORE EXPENSIVE IT IS GOING TO BE.

This may seem like a no-brainer, but "a boyfriend cable is going to be more expensive than a lightweight shrunken style". The weight makes it more expensive, so if something is made to create airiness, lightness, and gauziness, it's cheaper. Also, [how complex the knitting is] is also something to consider. A jersey stitch, which is super plain, like a J. Crew cardigan or Uniqlo basic pullover, is fast to make, so that would be more inexpensive. A cable or waffle is slower to knit, so it's more expensive.