Narrator: Cashmere: the luxurious garment that is soft,
cloud-like, wispy, and high in price.
Johnstons of Elgin, a company
that has been making cashmere products since 1851,
gave us a peek inside the cashmere-making process.
Here's how cashmere is made.
This prized material stems from the cashmere goat
and is also almost three times
more insulating than sheep wool.
These goats can be found across the Himalayas,
and they're very in-demand.
In some cases, several goats are needed
to make just a single cashmere garment.
- So cashmere is very precious, and it's collected
in very small quantities.
It's combed from the underside of the goat
in a very natural process at the springtime
when the fibers are starting to float,
so they're shedding their winter coats.
Narrator: First, the fibers are dyed
to the desired color.
Johnstons of Elgin has over 6,500 shades
in its color library.
Dying can leave the fibers matted,
so teasing helps open them.
Here is where the cashmere is blended
with other colors or other fibers.
Fibers can include Merino wool or silk,
so sometimes cashmere can be blended
with different colors but have the same fiber,
or they can be of the same color
and be blended with different fibers.
From there, the cashmere is fed into a carding machine.
This machine detangles and combs the hair
into thin sheets known as rovings.
This process has barely changed since the 1800s.
- Every single stage is within our control.
If something goes wrong at the end of the process,
we can go right back in the process
and understand what caused that.
And, of course, when we're working
on the very highest luxury level, we can perfect things,
so we can do things that other mills just can't do.
Narrator: Next, the rovings
are uniformly spun into yarn.
Spinning twists the fibers together,
which helps give the cashmere its strength.
At Johnstons of Elgin, the yarn is regularly checked by hand
to make sure the consistency is even.
The weaving part of the process lays out
the pattern of the cashmere garment.
The color, pattern, and design of the weave
is decided in advance.
The warp, a basic component used in weaving
to turn yarn into fabric, consists of the threads
that run from the top to the bottom of the cloth.
Cashmere is a very versatile fabric.
It's extremely lightweight and comfortable,
keeping you warm in the cold and cool in the heat.
The cashmere is carefully washed.
Johnstons of Elgin uses water specifically
from the River Teviot.
This is to help bring the fabric back
to its original soft state.
The trim is then cut, and a label is stitched on.
Although cashmere is a delicate fabric,
if cared for properly, it can last you a lifetime.
So next time you're wearing your favorite cashmere scarf
or sweater, you'll now know what makes this material
so unique and luxurious.