₦airaland Forum

I run a scarf factory in China. Every week, buyers ask me: "Is 100% cashmere worth it, or should I go with a wool blend?"

So I pulled our lab data (ISO 12945‑2 pilling tests, thermal conductivity, micron analysis). Here's what I actually see, no marketing BS.

The short version:

Pure cashmere is about 30% warmer (0.045 vs 0.052 CLO).

But it pills more – grade 3.5 vs grade 4+ for a good wool blend (1 = terrible, 5 = no pilling).

A 70/30 wool/cashmere blend drops pilling complaints by ~70% but keeps 80% of the soft feel. Real client example: German e‑tailer switched, returns fell 70%.

What the numbers don't tell you:

For luxury gifts (low wear), go 100% cashmere – buyers pay for the hand feel.

For travel gear or daily use, a blend is smarter. A US outdoor brand cut pilling returns from 8% to 1.2% with 70/30.

What to ask any supplier (most won't answer):

"What's your ISO 12945‑2 pilling grade?"

"Can you show a third‑party fiber micron test?"

"Do you have a sample washed 10 times?"

If they hesitate, walk away. We publish our reports – SGS, OEKO‑TEX, IWTO references.

Happy to answer questions – been doing this 15+ years. What's your experience with cashmere vs blends? Any horror stories?