Cashmere vs. Wool: The Differences Show, and Each Has Its Own Specialties

I. Cashmere wool, where does it originate?

Cashmere is mainly produced from goats, especially specific breeds of goats. China is the world's largest producer of cashmere, and Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang and Qinghai are the main cashmere producing areas in China. Among them, cashmere from the Ordos region of Inner Mongolia is known for its fine, soft and elastic fibers. Cashmere is growing in the goat's outer skin, covered in the goat's coarse hair at the root of a thin layer of fine velvet, cold in the winter when the growth, against the wind and cold, warm in the spring after shedding, belonging to the rare special animal fibers.

Wool comes from sheep. There are six major wool-producing regions in the world, including Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Uruguay, South Africa and China. Australian wool is known for its high quality and abundance, with wool fibers that are uniformly coarse and medium length, with good elasticity and warmth. New Zealand's wool is also highly sought after for its soft texture, which makes it suitable for high-end textiles.

In general, although both cashmere and wool come from sheep, there are obvious differences in their origins and characteristics due to their different sources. Cashmere is produced in relatively small quantities and is more expensive, while wool is produced in larger quantities and is relatively more affordable. At the same time, cashmere has better warmth, softness and comfort than wool.

II. Differences in collection, each with its own merits

(i) Wool harvesting like a haircut

Wool is collected in a relatively simple and straightforward way, just like giving a haircut. The wool is usually shaved off from the sheep's body using specialized shears. In the world's six major wool-producing regions, such as Australia and New Zealand, wool harvesting usually takes place in the right season. In Australia, for example, there is a specific time of the year when the sheep are sheared. The shearing process is usually operated by professional shearers who use electric shears to quickly and efficiently remove the wool from the sheep. It is estimated that an adult sheep can shear about 5 to 10 kilograms of wool at a time. The sheared wool is then sorted and organized initially and transported to the processing plant for further processing.

(ii) Cashmere harvesting like combing hair

Cashmere grows at the root of the goat's coarse hair and is collected in a very different way to wool. When spring comes and the goats start to shed their hair, people will use special combs to comb out the cashmere. These combs are usually made of iron or other materials and have fine teeth that gently comb the cashmere down from the roots of the goat's coarse hair without harming the goat. In China's Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang, a large number of herders work to collect cashmere every spring. Collecting cashmere requires great care and patience, as the production of cashmere is relatively small. Generally speaking, a goat can only produce a few hundred grams of cashmere a year. Cashmere collection, but also need to carry out fine screening and processing to ensure its quality.

III. Differences in production and value

Cashmere production is extremely limited, compared with wool can be called a world of difference. As mentioned earlier, an adult sheep can be sheared once about 5 to 10 kg of wool, while a goat can only produce a few hundred grams of cashmere a year. In terms of specific data, let's say a sheep produces 8 kg of wool per year, while a goat produces only 300 grams of cashmere per year, a difference of nearly 30 times.

This huge production gap directly leads to the scarcity of cashmere. The reason why cashmere is called “soft gold” is precisely because of its scarce production and excellent quality. Due to the limited production, cashmere in the market price is much higher than wool. A pure cashmere clothing is often expensive, often thousands of dollars. The price of wool products is relatively more affordable, from tens of dollars to thousands of dollars.

The scarcity of cashmere is also reflected in the difficulty of its collection. Cashmere collection needs herdsmen carefully combed with special combs, consuming a lot of time and energy. Wool collection, on the other hand, can be done quickly by machinery. In addition, the quality of cashmere is also very high and needs to go through fine screening and processing, which further increases its cost.

In short, the vast difference in production between cashmere and wool makes cashmere more valuable. Whether in terms of warmth, softness or comfort, cashmere is top of the line, which is an important reason for its high price.

IV. Varying performance and distinctive features

(i) Skin-friendly degree is very different

The surface of wool scales is rough and not smooth, which makes wool products in contact with human skin, may cause some discomfort, not skin-friendly. In contrast, the surface scales of cashmere are ring-shaped and hollow, this unique structure makes cashmere more soft and skin-friendly. According to relevant research, cashmere and human skin fit higher, can bring more comfortable wearing experience.

(ii) Warmth performance difference

Wool fibers are relatively rough, this rough fiber structure makes wool to a certain extent to lock the air, which has better warmth. However, cashmere fibers are finer and softer, and hollow structure. This hollow structure stores more static air, which greatly improves the warmth of cashmere. Statistically, cashmere is up to eight times warmer than wool. In the cold winter, a piece of pure cashmere clothing can provide people with warmer protection.

(iii) Contrasting moisture absorption

Cashmere has strong water absorption and its moisture regain rate is high. When cashmere is immersed in water, it can get wet very quickly. In contrast, wool takes more than half a minute to fully wet out. This is because cashmere fibers are more loosely structured and are able to absorb water more quickly. In a humid environment, cashmere can better regulate the body's humidity, to keep the skin dry.

(iv) Higher or lower wrinkle resistance

Cashmere wrinkle resistance is better, which is mainly due to its surface scales and fiber structure characteristics. Cashmere scales are small and tightly arranged, the fiber is softer, so when extruded by external forces, it is not easy to produce wrinkles. The wool fiber is relatively hard, the scales are larger, easy to wear and wash the process of wrinkles. Therefore, cashmere products in the daily wear and maintenance process is more labor-saving.

V. Synthesizing each other's strengths

Cashmere and wool, while both coming from sheep, differ significantly in several ways.
In terms of origin, cashmere comes mainly from specific breeds of goats, with China's Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang and Qinghai being the main producers, with the Ordos region being particularly high quality. Wool, on the other hand, comes from sheep, and the world's six major wool-producing regions include Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Uruguay, South Africa and China, with Australia and New Zealand known for their high quality and abundant production.

Wool is harvested like a haircut, using specialized shears to shave off the wool from the sheep's body. For example, in Australia, there is a specific time of year for shearing, and an adult sheep can be sheared for about 5 to 10 kilograms of wool at a time. Cashmere collection, such as hair combing, with special combs in the spring combing goat thick hair roots of cashmere, the collection process needs to be careful and patient, a goat can only produce a few hundred grams of cashmere a year.
In terms of production, the difference between the two is huge. A sheep produces 8 kilograms of wool a year, while a goat produces only 300 grams of cashmere a year, a difference of nearly 30 times. The scarcity of cashmere makes it known as “soft gold”, the price is much higher than wool, and the collection of difficult, high quality requirements, increasing the cost.

Performance, the degree of skin-friendly different, wool scales rough not smooth, may cause discomfort, cashmere scales were ring-shaped and hollow, more soft skin-friendly; warmth performance differences, cashmere fibers are fine and soft hollow structure, warmth is eight times the wool; moisture absorption contrast, cashmere absorbent, high rate of moisture, can be more quickly wet through the humid environment can regulate the body's humidity; wrinkle-resistant ability to have a high level, the cashmere scales small Arrangement of close, soft fibers, wrinkle resistance is good, wool fiber hard, large scales, easy to produce wrinkles.

In summary, cashmere and wool have their own characteristics. Cashmere is excellent in warmth, softness, skin friendliness, etc., but the production is small and the price is high; wool production is large and the price is friendly, although it is not as good as cashmere in some performance, but it can also satisfy the needs of different consumers. When choosing, consumers can make comprehensive consideration according to their actual situation and needs.