How to Keep Cashmere Quality over Time

If cashmere is top quality and properly cared for—like the kind made by 1stAmerican—it can stand the test of time, staying with you throughout your life or being passed down from one generation to the next, for example from mother to daughter or father to son. Another key feature is its high-end look, which guarantees the perfect fit and style, making the experience truly special for whoever wears it. You’ll feel constantly wrapped in a piece that’s perfect for your needs, since this fabric adapts to and flatters every body type.

Wearing cashmere pieces—whether a sweater or simple accessories like gloves, a hat, or a scarf—is a feeling that sticks with you. Also, keep in mind that cashmere doesn’t take a vacation; it’s useful and functional in every season, not just in the coldest months.

It’s also perfect for cool summer evenings, including mountain getaways. Since it takes up little space, it won’t clutter your drawers. In short, learning how to care for and store cashmere properly is a long-term investment that pays off over time without much effort.

In this guide, we’ll share more on how to maintain cashmere’s signature qualities, keeping it as beautiful and comfortable on the skin as ever. Tips you’ll come back to for years and turn into a pleasant habit—just like wearing pieces made from this gorgeous fabric.

The Golden Rule: Let Cashmere Breathe

Cashmere is always very gentle on the skin—respectful in a way only the best fabrics can be. Among its many great qualities, cashmere naturally adapts to the surrounding climate and to your skin. The key is to wear it the right way, which helps it last longer.

The best way to help cashmere last is to avoid wearing it for several days in a row or multiple times in the same day. Instead, lay it flat and let it air out.

Ideally, give cashmere one or two consecutive days of rest—just as a guideline. This also helps cut down on overly frequent washing.

This way, the fabric gets maximum breathability—yes, cashmere “breathes” in its own way—without stressing the fibers. Plus, by following this simple rule, you preserve the fabric’s elasticity and reduce the chance of pilling.

If Pilling Occurs

Pilling is an unsightly effect typical of wool or knit fabrics. It shows up as a fine, fuzzy layer that forms little bobbles, often seen as a sign of aging or poor care.

As we mentioned earlier, you can help prevent it day to day by airing pieces out. But proper care alone won’t fully stop pilling, because it’s a natural process that happens over time—even with the best-quality fabric.

So, pilling shouldn’t be used to judge cashmere quality. A good habit to adopt is to gently brush the garment. Choose a soft brush, like velvet, or use a comb—absolutely avoid razors. This way you’ll prevent tears and safely remove pilling.

How to Wear Cashmere

There are a few helpful tips when wearing cashmere. Start by pairing it with smooth base layers like cotton, silk, or linen, and avoid buttons, zippers, and scratchy labels. These elements can be irritating on contact and may even cause abrasion.

Also avoid carrying items with sharp edges—like keys or keychains—in your pant or jacket/coat pockets, as they could rub against your cashmere.

Another smart habit is to avoid wearing cashmere in situations where you know you’ll sweat a lot. Body heat can encourage pilling, especially under the arms. If it happens, wash the sweater, dry it properly, brush it, and let it rest. Nothing irreversible, don’t worry.

Careful with Washing!

Don’t be afraid to wash cashmere. Even though it’s soft and may seem delicate, it’s actually quite resilient. Just pay attention to the process to keep it in top shape from every angle.

1stAmerican is especially particular about proper cashmere washing. On every item in the e-commerce, you’ll find detailed instructions on how to wash it to avoid unpleasant surprises and preserve all the qualities that make the fabric so renowned.

So, opt for dry cleaning or hand washing, ideally inside out. This helps your cashmere avoid the rough treatment typical of washing machines.

The very best option is to wash it inside out in plenty of water. Think of cashmere a bit like a plant or a living thing that finds new energy in contact with water—that’s why you want lots of it. Just keep the soak under five minutes.

Handled this way, your cashmere will last for years. This approach works for all garments and in every season.

How to Wash Cashmere-Silk and Cashmere-Wool Pieces

On 1stAmerican you’ll find optimal washing instructions not only for 100% cashmere sweaters but also for those made of cashmere and silk and cashmere and wool. In both cases, avoid the washing machine unless you use a cold program (or no hotter than 30°C), and prefer hand or dry cleaning.

In any case, the water should never be boiling. Go back to the earlier metaphor of a plant: would you water it with hot water?

Following this washing process will make your cashmere-silk or cashmere-wool sweater last much longer.

Preserving Cashmere Color

An important discussion is needed for the color treatment of cashmere garments, a distinctive element of each piece that can make a significant positive difference, both aesthetically and in terms of the wearer’s mood.

It’s common practice to not mix whites and colored items during washing. This advice is absolutely not outdated and is valid not only for machine washing but also for hand washing. Therefore, a good practice is to not mix garments of different shades when washing cashmere items, but rather to wash them separately. This way, you can be sure that the color not only stays intact but remains bright.

How to Dry Cashmere

The drying process is as delicate as washing. The spread of dryer machines has changed people’s habits over the years, proving particularly useful for many materials but not for cashmere. Moreover, it’s not particularly eco-friendly, which presents disadvantages that shouldn’t be underestimated.

Cashmere should not be put in the dryer, as this system is not suitable for its longevity. This applies to all fabrics containing cashmere yarn, whether 100% or, as in 1stAmerican garments, blended with silk or wool. The drying procedure therefore remains unchanged.

The best solution is to lay cashmere flat on a towel, allowing the fabric to find and maintain its natural shape. Also, it’s important to keep cashmere away from direct heat sources, not just heating systems or house lights, but also natural sunlight. This doesn’t mean it needs to be kept in the dark, just that direct exposure to these elements isn’t effective or advisable for its maintenance and health.

Ironing Cashmere

If you’ve carefully followed all the described steps, there’s usually no need to iron cashmere garments, as they have a natural drape. However, if you need the cashmere to look impeccable, you can iron it at home, obviously with proper care.

The best solution is to iron the sweater inside out, placing a cloth between the sweater and the iron.

Special attention needs to be paid to the temperature, which should not be too high. Always keep the plant metaphor in mind and you won’t go wrong. Modern irons all have a system for ironing wool items or at low temperatures. So it’s nothing extraordinary or exceptional.

When ironing a cashmere sweater, it’s helpful to guide its direction with your hands, harmoniously arranging the neck area, shoulders, hem, and sleeves.

What if I’m not Confident about Washing, Drying, and Ironing?

In this case, the best option is to take it to a specialized and highly qualified dry cleaner. It’s essential to verify not only their skills but also their references, to ensure your soft and refined garment stays that way.

As we’ve seen, the processes involved in washing, drying, and ironing, as well as daily use, are far from complex and are rather simple to do yourself. When followed carefully and to the letter, they can be carried out safely and very practically.

How to Store Cashmere in your Closet

Before storing your cashmere garment in the closet, it’s essential to make sure it has no stains or traces of sweat, food, or other substances. This isn’t just for hygiene or aesthetic reasons, but also because these elements attract moths, which can damage not only cashmere garments but other clothes as well.

Once you’re sure the cashmere is clean and well-folded, you can proceed with storage. A good habit is to insert tissue paper while folding, which helps with the folding process while also providing protection to prevent potential damage to the fabric.

Another interesting solution is to place each garment in a non-airtight plastic bag to allow natural breathing. You can also add cedar balls, which have a pleasant citrus or camphor aroma, an excellent system for preventing moths.

If you prefer a solution that doesn’t have direct contact with the cashmere, you can add sachets of lavender, rosemary, cedar, or cloves to the drawer or closet; these are available commercially or you can make them yourself.

The sachets should be renewed every two or three months. The ingredients should always be wrapped to avoid any unpleasant contamination (which isn’t easy to wash out) with the fabric.

Once these steps are completed, the cashmere garment is ready to be stored in the closet. Ready to maintain its quality over time and in daily use.