About Cashmere & Llama
Cashmere comes from the Tibetan goat.
The name ‘cashmere' comes from the Kashmir shawls (early 19th century Europe). The
shawls were handcrafted from cashmere in the Kashmir province in India
Fibres can be white, tan or grey in colour. It is expensive because it has to be hand-plucked
or hand-combed from the Kashmir goat, and takes between four to six goats to make a
jumper, and thirty to forty goats to make an overcoat
Llama is similar to alpaca hair; however the fleece is mainly used as fur
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Common Cashmere and Llama Fabrics
Cashmere and Llama are often blended for strength and durability,
Recommended Uses
Cashmere: fine luxurious knitwear, suiting, jackets and overcoats
Llama: jumpers and overcoats
Properties
Cashmere and Llama are very soft to the touch
Care
Use the recommended soap or laundry powder and rinse well. When washing cashmere
and Llama, DO NOT RUB IT VIGOROUSLY, or this will felt (or matt) both fibres, causing them
to shrink dramatically. Gently scrunch (DO NOT WRING) excess water out.
Lay cashmere and Llama garments flat on a towel out of the sun. You must, when laying it
flat, press it into the shape and size you want (as it will dry in this shape). Because these
fibres are weaker when wet, it's easy to overstretch or distort the shape of the garment.
Both fibres are best ironed slightly damp, using a damp cloth or steam. Always use a press
cloth (a layer of fabric between the iron and the cashmere or Llama) to prevent a ‘shine' on
the fabric. Use a medium heat.
Bleaching is not recommended unless it is specific ‘wool' bleach.
Both fibres dry-clean well however there is no guarantee it will not shrink.
Store both fibres completely dry, making sure it has been dry-cleaned or laundered
properly. You can store them in plastic bags and it is recommended to use moth balls or
naphthalene. Air these garments frequently.