Care & Storage Instructions

Cashmere Care: Protecting Your Investment

Investing in cashmere is about more than just luxury—it’s about longevity. High-quality cashmere is designed to last for years, but only when cared for correctly. At Pura Cashmere, we use some of the finest cashmere available, with an average fiber length of 34-38mm and an exceptional fineness of ≤15.5 microns, ensuring unparalleled softness, warmth, and durability.

Proper care will preserve the beauty, shape, and longevity of your cashmere pieces. Below, we outline how to clean, store, and maintain your cashmere while also addressing pilling, a natural and expected characteristic of fine cashmere.

Dry Cleaning (Recommended Method)

While cashmere can be hand-washed, we strongly recommend dry cleaning as the safest and most reliable option.

Why Dry Clean? Professional dry cleaning ensures that cashmere maintains its softness, prevents shrinkage, and protects delicate fibers from damage.
How Often? For regular wear, dry clean your cashmere every 5–10 wears, or as needed if exposed to sweat, spills, or odors.
Find a Trusted Cleaner: Not all dry cleaners specialize in cashmere—look for one with experience handling fine wool garments.

Hand Washing (If Necessary) - 3 Easy Steps

01.
Use Cold Water: Never use hot water, as it can cause the fibers to shrink.
Choose a Gentle Detergent: Use a delicate wool detergent, such as The Laundress Wool & Cashmere Shampoo, to protect the fibers.

Soak, Don’t Scrub: Submerge the sweater in cold water and gently swish it around for no more than 10 minutes. Avoid twisting or stretching the fabric.

02.
Rinse in Cold Water: Carefully drain the soapy water and refill the basin with fresh, cold water. Repeat until the detergent is fully removed.
Do Not Wring: Press the sweater gently against the side of the sink to remove excess water.

03.
Lay Flat to Dry: Place the sweater on a clean, dry towel and gently reshape it. Roll the towel up to absorb excess water, then lay it flat to air dry.
Avoid Hanging: Hanging cashmere can cause stretching and distortion. Always dry it flat.
Keep Away from Heat and Sunlight: Never place cashmere in direct sunlight or near a heat source, as this can damage the fibers.

Pilling: A Natural Part of Owning Cashmere

One of the most common questions about cashmere is pilling—those small, fuzzy balls that appear on the surface of your sweater over time. While some might mistake pilling for a flaw, it’s actually a normal and expected characteristic of soft, high-quality cashmere.

Why Does Cashmere Pill?

Pilling happens when loose fibers on the surface of the garment rub against each other or other materials, forming tiny balls. This friction can come from normal wear, such as:

Under the arms – where sleeves and the body of the sweater meet

Along the sides – where your sweater brushes against your arms or bag straps

At the cuffs and elbows – areas that see frequent movement

Around the neckline – especially when layered under coats or scarves

How Quality Impacts Pilling

The quality of a cashmere sweater depends largely on fiber length and thickness:

Longer fibers mean better durability. High-quality cashmere is made from longer fibers (typically 28mm–42mm), which results in a stronger, smoother fabric that pills less compared to lower-quality cashmere, which uses shorter fibers that break and shed more easily.

Fiber thickness matters. The best cashmere falls between 14 to 19 microns in fineness. Pura Cashmere’s fibers measure ≤15.5 microns, meaning they are exceptionally fine and soft, but still durable.

Different Sweaters Will Pill at Different Rates

Pilling is also influenced by the ply and gauge of the yarn used in a sweater.

Lighter-weight, fine-gauge sweaters (with a higher stitch count per inch) tend to pill more quickly, as the fabric is more delicate and experiences more movement.

Thicker, heavier knits (with a lower gauge and higher ply) are more resistant to pilling because the yarn is denser and less prone to friction-based fiber release.

This means that a lightweight cashmere sweater will naturally pill sooner than a thick, tightly knit one. While this is expected, proper care will help maintain the smoothness and beauty of all cashmere styles.

How to Remove and Prevent Pilling

While pilling is inevitable with soft fibers, it can be easily managed with proper care. Here’s how to keep your cashmere looking flawless:

01.
Remove Pills Gently
Use a Cashmere Comb: The best way to remove pills is by using a cashmere comb, gently brushing the fabric in one direction to lift the loose fibers.
Fabric Shavers & Sweater Stones: A fabric shaver or sweater stone can also help remove pills, but use them lightly to avoid thinning the fabric.

02.
Reduce Friction & Wear Smarter
Rotate Your Sweaters: Giving your cashmere a break between wears helps fibers settle and prevents excessive pilling.
Layer Thoughtfully: Avoid wearing cashmere directly under rough materials like wool coats, denim jackets, or leather straps, as these can accelerate pilling.
Be Mindful of Bags & Seatbelts: Crossbody bags, backpacks, and seatbelts can rub against the fabric and cause pilling in concentrated areas.

03.
Wash & Care Properly
Hand wash or dry clean your cashmere regularly to remove loose fibers before they turn into pills.
Lay flat to dry to maintain the fabric’s smooth texture and prevent fiber breakage.

Proper Storage

Fold, Don’t Hang: Always store cashmere folded to prevent stretching.
Use Breathable Storage Bags: When storing cashmere for an extended period, use a cotton or linen garment bag to protect it from dust and moths.
Moth Prevention: Store with natural moth repellents, such as cedar blocks or lavender sachets, to keep pests away.

Final Thought: Pilling is Temporary, Quality is Forever

Pilling is a normal part of wearing cashmere and will naturally decrease over time as the shorter fibers work their way out. With regular care and attention, your Pura Cashmere sweater will only get softer and more beautiful with wear—a true mark of quality cashmere.

By investing in Pura Cashmere’s 34-38mm, ≤15.5-micron cashmere, you’re getting some of the best cashmere available—luxuriously soft, incredibly warm, and designed to last for years to come.

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