The holiday madness has subsided. Gift givers were generous, and you want for nothing. But that whopping gift certificate is burning a hole in your pocket.
What to do?
Consider cashmere. For the uncertain and uninitiated, some information may be in order:
– It takes four years for a single Kashmir goat to produce enough fiber to make one sweater, thus ranking cashmere with gemstones as one of nature’s most precious gifts.
– For centuries, cashmere was such a costly and exclusive weave, it touched only the flesh of royalty.
– The primary cashmere-producing countries are China, Mongolia, Iran and Afghanistan.
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When it comes to cashmere, the old standard is true: You get what you pay for.
“If you only have $50 to spend, buy a wool sweater,” said Dick Forte, CEO of Forte Cashmere, an importer in Massachusetts. “If you have $200, you can have cashmere.”
Although pricey, Forte said cashmere has never been more affordable, a result of unsteady economic times in the United States and Japan.
Banana Republic stores offer several men’s and women’s styles ranging from $168 for a hooded sweater to $298 for a densely woven cable knit. At Nordstrom, men’s crew necks are selling for $155. Saks Fifth Avenue is advertising a sporty winter style for $298.
Industry experts say that a sweater selling for less than $150 is unlikely to be 100 percent cashmere. Cashmere blended with other fibers such as silk and wool will be less expensive. Sweaters made with shorter cashmere fibers will not be as soft or durable.
To check the quality of cashmere:
– Grab the sides of a cashmere sweater and pull gently. A good sweater will snap back into place.
– Cashmere is graded by weight, what the industry calls plies. Look for multiple plies. Having more plies means a tighter knit, and that should result in a longer life span. But more plies mean more cost.
– Turn the sweater inside out. The seams should be finished with a heavy-gauge thread, and there should be no dangling threads.
– Finally, caress the sweater. A good one will be extremely soft to the touch, but not fuzzy–an indicator that the sweater will not last.
“Generally, cashmere should look and feel like a million bucks,” said Karl Spilhaus, president of the Cashmere & Camel Hair Manufacturers Institute in Boston. “Consumers need to really look closely at the garment.”
Luxe for less
Shoppers who want luxury but don’t have a few hundred dollars to spare will find many options in accessories. Gloves, scarves, hats, wraps, mufflers and socks all can be had for as little as $30 to as much as $148. Or try a blend. “If you have $100 to spend, you can look for cashmere that is blended with wool or silk,” said Cheryl Hall Lindsay, director of fashion public relations and special events for Saks Fifth Avenue in Troy, Mich. “But don’t go for cashmere blended with nylon, acrylics or other non-natural fibers. These products cause the shape of the garment to change when washed, and that changes the overall quality of the product.”
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Edited by Cara DiPasquale ([email protected]) and Kris Karnopp ([email protected])