Cashmere

The fiber is called cashmere, the undercoat of long-haired goats. It is an English word derived from Kashmir, a region in north-west India where fine shawls, known as pashmina, were made with this fiber. Pashmina cashmere is collected from goats in high-altitude regions of Changtang and Ladakh, and woven by Turkmen artisans with Persian designs. The fiber must be dehaired and processed by skilled workers. Cashmere garments are lightweight, soft, and comfortable but expensive due to the complexity of its production.