In the custom sweater industry, cashmere is hailed as “soft gold,” but cashmere sweaters on the market range in price from a few hundred yuan to tens of thousands of yuan, with huge differences in quality. Many customers pay high prices for low-quality cashmere, resulting in a poor wearing experience and easy pilling and deformation.
As a wool knitting OEM manufacturer with 25 years of experience, we purchase a large quantity of cashmere yarn every year and deeply understand the ins and outs of cashmere quality. This article helps you understand high-quality cashmere from four dimensions: differences in origin, grading standards, procurement costs, and finished product evaluation.
01
Cashmere origin differences: China Inner Mongolia vs Mongolia vs other countries
The quality of cashmere depends primarily on its origin; different goat breeds and climates directly affect the characteristics of cashmere.
| Origin | Representative Breed | Cashmere Features | Fineness Range | Price Grade | Suitable Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inner Mongolia | Alxa White Cashmere Goat | Finest fiber, high whiteness, good luster | 14.0–15.5μm | Top (A++) | Luxury goods, high-end custom products |
| Outer Mongolia | Gobi Purple Cashmere Goat | Moderate fineness, mostly purple/gray cashmere | 15.5–16.5μm | High-end (A+) | Premium brands |
| Iran | Persian Goat | Long fiber, strong, mostly colored cashmere | 16.0–17.5μm | Mid-range (A) | Mainstream brands |
| Afghanistan | Hindu Kush Goat | High yield, low price, average quality | 17.0–19.0μm | Ordinary (B) | Fast fashion, budget products |
| Other Regions of China | Various crossbred goats | Quality varies, requires strict selection | 16.5–18.5μm | Mid-low (B/C) | China Domestic market, wholesale |
China Inner Mongolian white cashmere has the finest texture (14–15.5μm) and the softest feel; Outer Mongolian purple cashmere is darker in color and suitable for dark-colored products; Iranian cashmere has good length and is suitable for spinning high-count yarns. For a comparison of cashmere and regular wool, please refer to What is alpaca wool? How does it differ from cashmere and mohair?
What is alpaca wool? How does it differ from cashmere and mohair?
02
Cashmere grading standards: triple assessment of fineness, length, and whiteness.
At DGJIAYAN Knitwear Manufacturer, we primarily base our cashmere grading on three core indicators:
| Grade | Fineness (μm) | Length (mm) | Whiteness (%) | Coarse Fiber (%) | Price Factor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A++ (Top) | ≤15.0 | ≥38 | ≥92 | ≤0.3 | 1.8–2.2x |
| A+ (High-end) | 15.1–16.0 | 36–38 | 88–92 | 0.3–0.5 | 1.4–1.8x |
| A (Premium) | 16.1–17.0 | 34–36 | 85–88 | 0.5–0.8 | 1.2–1.4x |
| B (First Class) | 17.1–18.0 | 32–34 | 80–85 | 0.8–1.2 | Base Price |
| C (Qualified) | 18.1–19.0 | 30–32 | 75–80 | 1.2–1.8 | 0.8–0.9x |
Fineness is key: Superfine cashmere (below 15.5μm) is 2-3 times more expensive than regular cashmere (18μm), and the difference in feel is visually noticeable. Length affects spinning: Cashmere with a length ≥36mm can be spun into high-count yarn (2/48Nm, 2/60Nm), producing lighter and finer cashmere sweaters.
Cashmere and Wool Comparison Reference:
The Difference Between Cashmere And Wool
03
DGJIAYAN Factory Procurement Costs: Why Premium Cashmere is 3-5 Times More Expensive
Taking the market price in China March 2026 as an example, the differences in procurement costs for different grades of cashmere are as follows:
| Cost Item | A++ Top Grade | A+ High-end | A Premium | B First Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raw Cashmere Price | ¥850–950/kg | ¥650–750/kg | ¥480–550/kg | ¥380–420/kg |
| Scouring Yield | 42–45% | 40–42% | 38–40% | 35–38% |
| Dehairing Loss | 8–10% | 10–12% | 12–15% | 15–18% |
| Clean Cashmere Cost | ¥2100–2300/kg | ¥1650–1850/kg | ¥1250–1450/kg | ¥1050–1200/kg |
| Total Yarn Cost | ¥2280–2520/kg | ¥1800–2030/kg | ¥1370–1600/kg | ¥1150–1330/kg |
A 300g cashmere sweater made with A++ top-grade cashmere yarn costs approximately ¥684–756 in yarn alone, while B-grade cashmere costs only around ¥345–399 — nearly half the price difference. This is why sweaters labeled “100% cashmere” can still vary in price by several times. For a complete breakdown of sweater costs, please refer to the analysis of sweater production cost composition.
The Ultimate Custom Sweaters Pricing Guide
04
Five ways to judge the quality of a cashmere sweater
Even without technical jargon, you can use these methods to make a preliminary judgment:
- Touch Test: High-quality cashmere feels delicate, soft, and smooth, with a “silky” and “waxy” touch that does not irritate the skin when placed against the cheek.
- Luster Observation: Good cashmere has a natural and gentle luster — neither overly shiny nor dull.
- Elasticity Check: After being lightly stretched, quality cashmere quickly returns to its original shape and is less likely to deform.
- Pilling Test: Rub the inner seam area gently; premium cashmere produces fewer pills, and the pills are smaller and easier to remove.
- Weight Comparison: For the same size garment, high-quality cashmere is usually lighter because the fibers are finer, fluffier, and require less material.
How to interpret the weight of a sweater to understand its relationship with its quality?
05
Common cashmere misconceptions
Many consumers believe that thicker sweaters, higher prices, or imported labels automatically mean better cashmere. In reality, true cashmere quality depends on fiber fineness, raw material grading, craftsmanship, and knitting technology — not just marketing claims.
| Myth | Fact | Correct Understanding |
|---|---|---|
| Thicker cashmere is always better | Cashmere value comes from fiber fineness, not thickness | Premium cashmere sweaters can be lightweight yet extremely warm |
| 100% cashmere means top quality | “100%” only shows composition, not grade | Low-grade 100% cashmere may perform worse than high-grade premium cashmere |
| Expensive cashmere is automatically superior | Luxury branding and retail markup can dominate pricing | Focus on actual cashmere grade, fiber micron, and yarn quality |
| Good cashmere never pills | All real cashmere can pill to some extent | Slight pilling is normal; excessive pilling indicates lower quality or poor yarn structure |
| Imported cashmere is always better | Inner Mongolia cashmere is among the world’s finest | Origin matters, but grading standards and processing are even more important |
As a professional knitwear manufacturer, we believe consumers should understand the real factors behind luxury cashmere: softness, durability, warmth retention, fiber consistency, and responsible production standards. High-quality cashmere is not defined by thickness or branding alone — it is the result of premium raw materials and expert craftsmanship.
