Cashmere vs wool jumpers on durability

[GodAtum]

My cashmere jumpers keep wearing out after a few months. They get torn in the elbows especially. Maybe wool is more durable?

 

[Phileas Fogg]

Merino wool is pretty durable but depending on what you’re doing and how you’re treating your clothing, that can wear too.

Cheap cashmere will wear out quickly. Quality cashmere, though not immune to abuse, will wear quite well. I have a 50 year old Scottish cashmere sweater from Pringle which still looks brand new and gets worn somewhat regularly.

 

[ter1413]

How are you caring for the cashmere sweaters?

 

[GodAtum]

How are you caring for the cashmere sweaters?

I hand wash them every so often and store them folded in a cupboard.

 

[maxalex]

It's true that cheap cashmere, which is made from shorter hairs, is less durable. Beyond that there are variables such as gauge (the weight of the finished fabric, higher number is lighter weight) and ply which describes the yarn thickness (the number of threads in the yarn). Cashmere is always going to be lighter in weight than a chunky wool sweater--that's what makes it so comfortable and dressy--so even the highest quality cashmere will not last as long as a thick wool sweater, just as a shirt won't last like a suit.

That said, a lot depends on how you wear it. If you usually wear a cashmere pullover under a tailored jacket, it will last longer. But if you wear it as an outer layer, the elbows will naturally wear out faster--even if your mother taught you not to put your elbows on the dinner table.

 

[Leiker]

My cashmere jumpers keep wearing out after a few months. They get torn in the elbows especially. Maybe wool is more durable?

Do you sit in a chair with your elbows resting on the arms a lot? I find myself doing this at work and it definitely wears on the elbows of my garments.

 

[Panama]

What brands are they?

 

[dieworkwear]

Try Shetland sweaters.

 

[GodAtum]

Yes I wear them at work with my elbows resting on the chair a lot. They are Charles Tyrwhitt 100% cashmere v-necks.

 

[bobby jonathan]

Yes I wear them at work with my elbows resting on the chair a lot. They are Charles Tyrwhitt 100% cashmere v-necks.

They are 100%, Chinese Tyrwhitt 100%.

bobby jonthan

 

[yorkshire pud]

My solution is to buy Merino sweaters from Uniqlo and throw them away after a couple of years (they are actually pretty good although I haven't tried a Cashmere version yet)

I've tried a few brands in the past (John Smedley/Paul Smith and Ralph Lauren) and it's not really worth it to me, it's just another anonymous sweater that I treat as a consumable (they all develop holes or lose their shape or shrink eventually)

If it fits well and the colour is good nobody will know if it cost $40 or $400!!

 

[Phileas Fogg]

My solution is to buy Merino sweaters from Uniqlo and throw them away after a couple of years (they are actually pretty good although I haven't tried a Cashmere version yet)

I've tried a few brands in the past (John Smedley/Paul Smith and Ralph Lauren) and it's not really worth it to me, it's just another anonymous sweater that I treat as a consumable (they all develop holes or lose their shape or shrink eventually)

If it fits well and the colour is good nobody will know if it cost $40 or $400!!

I wear Uniqlo merino sweaters to work. I like them because they are both cheap and offer a relatively good value and like you said, After a few seasons, I toss them and restock.

 

[yorkshire pud]

I wear Uniqlo merino sweaters to work. I like them because they are both cheap and offer a relatively good value and like you said, After a few seasons, I toss them and restock.

Solid choice for everyday essentials, I just added a couple of the merino roll necks to my winter wardrobe.

 

[maxalex]

Worth mentioning that the NYT Wirecutter section recently rated a lot of reasonably priced cashmere sweaters, including some brands that are relatively transparent about sourcing. (There are serious environmental issues in Mongolia with large herds of cashmere goats.) Derek Guy is quoted as an expert, rightly so. Wirecutter is behind a paywall but non-subscribers get a few free trial reads.

The Best Men’s and Women’s Cashmere Sweaters

We tested 25 cashmere sweaters—ranging in price from $50 to $500—and came away with six favorites that suit a range of styles and budgets.

www.nytimes.com

 

[double00]

often enough a blended yarn yields the best of all worlds , single source fiber makes for great marketing tho .