The Kashmir region is located in the Indian subcontinent.
Kashmir is a term that can be used as a proper noun to refer to a region or as a common noun to refer to a textile fiber . The name of the fabric, in fact, is linked to the geographical location.
Kashmir is a territory located in the Indian subcontinent , west of the Himalayas . It is an area divided between China , Pakistan and India , where about 13 million inhabitants currently live.
disputed territory
The importance of Kashmir goes back a long time . In the past it had great academic and spiritual relevance; Since the 14th century , Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists have coexisted in the area.
At the political level, control of Kashmir is in dispute. In fact, in the last century several wars have broken out as China , Pakistan and India claim different sectors as their own.
The origins of this conflict date back to 1947 , when the British Raj was divided and the States of Pakistan and India were created. Countries with interests in Kashmir have since used religious and historical reasons to claim their authority. There is also a Kashmiri independence movement.
Cashmere is the name of a fiber that is made from the hair of a species of goat.
Cashmere fiber
According to the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ), a textile fiber that is made with goat hair is known as cashmere , cashmere , cashmere or cashmere . The name is linked to the fact that this wool is produced with a species of goat native to the Kashmir region.
Cashmere is a rare and expensive fabric . Its lightness, its softness and its qualities as a thermal insulator make it highly appreciated.
The cashmere fiber comes from the wool generated in the secondary follicles of the goat, which is more delicate than that produced by the primary follicles. Therefore, cashmere does not come from the outer layer of the fur, unlike what happens with sheep's wool, for example .
High quality, high price
Goats of the species used to obtain cashmere live in very cold areas. That is why they developed thick fur that allows them to withstand extreme temperatures. In this way, the wool used to make scarves and pullovers or sweaters is an excellent thermal insulator, as we already indicated above.
A peculiarity is that each goat produces a very limited amount of this type of wool. Furthermore, the extraction is not easy, since these goats are not sheared like sheep, but instead a careful, artisanal harvest is carried out. This scarcity means that cashmere has a fairly high price .
World production of pure cashmere is about 6,500 tons per year . However, when cashmere is combined with another type of wool or with synthetic fibers such as nylon or polyester , the figure grows to nearly 20,000 tons . It should be taken into account that, sometimes, this cashmere blend ( cashmere blend , according to the labeling in English) barely has 5% pure cashmere.