Cashmere is a luxurious fabric that has been made through a natural process. Besides richness, this fabric is known for its warmth and softness. Another notable property of this fabric is its lightweight and airiness. If you care correctly, your cashmere suit will serve you for a lifetime. The concern is that you will find duplicate cashmere fabrics in the marketplace nowadays. However, there are a few tests to check cashmere fabric’s authenticity. In the following section, find a detailed guide on choosing the right cashmere fabric.
Determining the Cashmere Fabric’s Quality
Fineness and length are the two crucial parameters in judging the quality of cashmere fabric. Dresses and suits made of fine and long cashmere suit fabric will get better with each wash. You will find exactly the opposite with most fabrics since fabrics become weaker with water washes.
Instead of 100% pure cashmere fabric, you will find blended cashmere fabric nowadays. The blending ratio between cashmere and other materials will determine the overall fabric’s quality. However, blended cashmere fabric is a good alternative for those who are looking for a cost-effective alternative to authentic cashmere wool fabric.
Tests to Determine Cashmere Fabric’s Quality
Typically, there are five tests to judge the cashmere suit fabric’s quality. Find a guide on these tests to ensure that you choose the correct cashmere fabric to craft your bespoke suit.
1. The Label Test
The label test has been determined as one of the most trusted tests for judging the cashmere fabric’s quality. This test can easily differentiate between blended and 100% authentic cashmere suit fabrics. According to the Federal Trade Commission of the USA, cashmere fabric should pass this test to claim 100% cashmere fabric. The test also tells the ratio of cashmere fabric and other fabric.
2. The Touch Test
You can also understand the authenticity of cashmere fabric by touching it. In most cases, a top-quality cashmere fabric is soft. However, it would not feel overly soft to you. As you keep wearing the cashmere fabric dress or suit, you will find the fabric will turn softer with the advent of time.
You can rub the cashmere fabric between your thumb and finger to understand whether the fabric has used chemical additives or not. If your fingers slick after rubbing, it is confirmed that chemical additives were added to the fabric to make it feel softer.
3. The Look Test
Sometimes, you can also judge the authenticity of cashmere fabric through the look test. Inspect the fabric closely by keeping it at your eye level. If the fabric shows a minimal amount of fluffiness, it is a good sign. A low fluffiness suggests shorter hairs have been used to craft the fabric.
4. The Stretch Test
A high elasticity is a distinguishable factor in judging the quality of a cashmere fabric. When you stretch the fabric, it must return back to its original shape quickly. When the fabric quality is poor, the elasticity will be low. Such fabrics will become loose and shaggy with the advent of time.
5. The Pilling Test
Take the fabric and rub your hand over the fabric several times. When you see little balls are getting formed, it means that the fabric contains an excessive amount of short hair. This fabric quality has been regarded as low quality. When the pills are formed gradually in a slow process, it means that the fabric’s quality is good.
Conclusion
So, these are the popular tests that are conducted to check the authenticity of cashmere fabric. Keep in mind that a 100% pure cashmere suit is rare and expensive. Therefore, you can choose the blended cashmere fabric for a low-cost solution. For crafting suits for men and women, a blended cashmere suit fabric is highly suitable.
