Question from Stacey
Hi Debra,
I’ve seen some merino wool and cashmere sweaters that I would like to purchase. However, I wonder if these sweaters are safe, or do I have to worry about any kind of “finish” or treatment on such “natural” fiber sweaters?
Debra’s Answer
I’ve purchased many cashmere sweaters and I’ve never detected anything toxic. I would continue to wear them but it’s way too warm here in Florida, so they are packed away in case I go somewhere cold. I love cashmere. I haven’t purchased a new cashmere sweater in more than ten years.
Some things to note. Seventy percent of cashmere comes from China, the rest comes from Outer Mongolia, Iran and Afghanistan. The only processing is “scouring” (washing) the wool to remove the dirt, grease, and other impurities. Cashmere Fiber Production: The process from the goat to top quality yarns.
Cashmere and Camel Hair Manufacturing Institute website has some interesting information for consumers about choosing cashmere.
Merino wool comes from the Merino sheep. Their wool is considered to be some of the finest and softest wool of any sheep. Here’s a website that shows Fibre to Fashion: The Know How of creating apparel from Merino wool.
