The most talked about thing when it comes to cashmere wool, is its expensive nature. Cashmere Wool is much more expensive than the other wools available. 1 kg of cashmere wool goes up to £13.00. But why is it so? Have you ever wondered why the price of a ladies cashmere hat is slightly higher than a normal hat? One of the prime reasons for cashmere wool being this expensive is the concept of demand and supply in production. The demand for cashmere woollen products is slightly higher. The demand is higher and the supply is less or limited. There are many reasons for limited supply as well. Primarily it is because the pashmina goat lives at a very high altitude in extreme weather and cold conditions. This woollen can only make the goat survive in this extreme weather. When winter arrives and the temperature goes up, then the farmer starts collecting wool from the goat. Farmers collect up to 160 kg from a single goat every season.

Let’s discuss some of the important reasons behind the high prices of cashmere wool.

The Limited Production

The limited production of cashmere wool can be attributed to several factors. The cashmere wool is derived from the soft undercoat of goats which are primarily found in the northwest areas of Kashmir, Afghanistan, Mongolia, and Iran. The temperature in these areas in winter is extremely cold. So that's the reason cashmere goats and cashmere woollen are limited. The stringent environmental conditions in which these goats thrive further constrain production. 

According to the world annual reports, the total amount of production of cashmere wool is 10,000 tons. Single pashmina goats can produce 50 to 80 gm per year. This is a major reason why cashmere woollen is so expensive. Given the high cost and limited production of cashmere wool, one can only anticipate the significant expense of cashmere scarves that are being produced.

High Labour Cost

The Process of making Pashmina woollen products is very difficult because this process requires highly skilled labourers who are experts in this field. The cause for being so expensive is that the materials are limited and manufacturers cannot afford to waste a single thread of it. The process of manufacturing cashmere products is also a very difficult part, goat wool is washed several times with rice starch, and dirt from the woollen is removed manually by the labour. The process of making a pashmina shawl is more time-consuming compared to other textile industries. The hand-weaving process of some pashmina products may take more than a month and that's the reason for the high labour cost. So it’s very obvious that the Higher labour cost, the higher the price of cashmere scarves for women.

The Elite Quality

Cashmere wool is the world's finest wool that is found naturally. It is considered the pinnacle of wool quality for several reasons. One such reason is its warmth. About 80 micrometres of pure cashmere wool is 10 times warmer than any other normal sheep wool that can absorb colors and monsters with any problem. It is very soft, fine, and light as compared to other sheep wool.

Woollen which was collected from Ladakh, Tibet, and China is declared A grade as the fibre diameter is below 80 micrometers. Pashmina woollen comes in 3 colors: pristine white, brown beige, and grey. We must mention that white fibers are more expensive than the others. Additionally, cashmere is lightweight and breathable, providing comfort without bulkiness. Overall, cashmere’s combination of softness, warmth, and lightweight feel make it the top choice and it can be considered as an investment, justifying its expensive nature.

The Sky-Reaching Demand For Cashmere

Cashmere is loved by people all across the globe. No matter where you go, you will find people wearing cashmere. Demand for mens cashmere gloves and scarves is also rising rapidly in countries such as France, the USA, Oman, UAE, Hongkong, Switzerland, and Germany making the price of cashmere products reach the skies. These countries have a higher demand for cashmere products than others. The market for cashmere scarves has also expanded over the years, especially in the countries mentioned above. Not to be overlooked, cashmere hats have also seen a surge in popularity among men, further contributing to the increased cost of raw cashmere wool.

Consequently, the higher demands from all across the globe have led to a notable increase in prices.

The Labour Intensive Process involved

The process of making pashmina scarf and shawls requires more labour and craft. It involves careful harvesting, cleaning, spinning, and knitting of luxurious fibres. Goats produce a soft undercoat that is collected through shearing. Due to low wages and Very bad Facilities, most of the craftsmen decline this tedious work. The harvested fibres are then sorted to remove the dirt and impure fibres. At present, 10% of pashmina are used for handspun and the rest of the 90% is spun by machine.

An average spinner spins 3 gm per day on a spinning wheel and it takes 2 months of effort for a scarf of 150 gm. After the product is ready, the weaver spends 3 weeks weaving a basic scarf and after this, there are many other ways to make a finished product. After going through all these phases cashmere wool is formed. The manufacturing of cashmere wool is expensive due to its labour intensive process as well. 

Well, these were the primary reasons behind the expensive nature of cashmere products such as scarves, hats, and gloves. Products such as Cashmere hats women define luxury and style, justifying their high prices.

Behind the luxury of cashmere woollen, there is an environmental impact also causing more production of wool, so people adopt more pashmina sheep for their Extra wool production and this makes more money from sheep and over unethical breeding. By purchasing men's cashmere gloves from a reputed company that practices ethically, they can contribute to humanity as well.

Conclusion

So we have already discussed all the major reasons behind the high prices of cashmere wool products. Now we know that cashmere is expensive due to its rarity and labor-intensive production process. The high demand for soft and luxurious items such as cashmere hats, gloves, scarves, and cardigans further drives up the cost. The meticulous craftsmanship required to produce these high-quality accessories ensures that cashmere remains a premium product, justifying its high price.