The truth about modern cashmere — and where real quality still hides

[christianGV]

Working in the clothing world over the past few years, I’ve seen how far most “cashmere” has drifted from what it used to be.

Today the label 100 % cashmere tells you almost nothing. You can pay €90 or €2 000 and still end up with yarns that were aggressively softened, over-finished, and spun for instant tactile appeal rather than longevity.

What surprises me most is how we’ve started equating softness with quality.
The old pieces — the ones that last — had density, tension, even a bit of resistance. They didn’t try to impress you on the first touch; they aged into something remarkable.

Lately I’ve been looking more into the small makers — the ones quietly aiming for Loro Piana- or Zegna-level quality but without the marketing machine or inflated prestige pricing.
A few of them seem genuinely focused on the fabric itself, not the logo. It feels like that’s where the real spirit of high-end craftsmanship still survives.

Curious if anyone here has found other small brands or mills that still care about those details.
I’d love to hear which names you think are getting it right.

 

[Trouser Bark]

I'm not in the industry but had heard years ago that significant herd size increases were directly known for having caused problems in Mongolia related to an increase in dust and decrease in legacy vegetation levels.

Some attribute the increase in herd size to an increase in Mongolian desert temps. I have no idea if that's a Chicken Little story or not but it's interesting all the same.

 

[cbez]

Why does this feel so chatgpt.

 

[TartuWolf]

Why does this feel so chatgpt.

Because it's the same user that's low key marketing his/their own product

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/thr...sweatshirt-—-would-love-your-thoughts.120696/

 

[Aloysius]

This is spam.

 

[christianGV]

I'm not in the industry but had heard years ago that significant herd size increases were directly known for having caused problems in Mongolia related to an increase in dust and decrease in legacy vegetation levels.

Some attribute the increase in herd size to an increase in Mongolian desert temps. I have no idea if that's a Chicken Little story or not but it's interesting all the same.

That’s actually a really good point — you’re absolutely right.
The overbreeding of goats in Mongolia has been one of the biggest issues behind the drop in quality and the environmental strain.
It’s part of why a lot of smaller mills now look for traceable or region-specific sourcing again, trying to rebuild that balance.

 

[DogFacePonySoldier]

Why does this feel so chatgpt.

"where the real spirit of high-end craftsmanship still survives." reads like a j petermen catalog without the soul of say an urban sombrero