The Truth About Cheap Cashmere
Rachel Tashjian just dropped another truth bomb in The Washington Post—this time about cheap cashmere. And it’s a must-read.
It got me thinking about all the industry secrets I’ve picked up over the years—not just what underlies those low price tags, but also the better options out there when you know where to look.
The answer to “Is cheap cashmere worth buying?” is a resounding no. Those bargain prices aren’t ‘affordable’—they’re subsidized by environmental destruction, worker exploitation, and favorable trade relationships that benefit corporations, not consumers.
Tea from when I was running innovation for J.Crew: I was told—quietly—that the storied yarn isn’t all cut from the same “cloth”. I can’t confirm, but it tracks with how costing and production work. What I do know is that marketing—along with consumer expectations for the impossible—helped create a perception vs. reality divide. In fashion and retail, the pressure for endless growth pushes brands to chase volume over ethics. The rise of “affordable luxury” cashmere set the stage for today’s flood of cheap cashmere. The actual cost? Paid by workers and the planet, while the C-suite collects their bonuses.
So what’s the move if you care about quality and impact together? Designer resale is your best friend - and trust me, I’ve got a precise list of what brands are worth hunting down (coming soon, watch this space). For now, here’s an insider tip: high-quality merino will serve you long-term better than cheap cashmere any day of the week.
Want to buy new? Check out my favorite brands doing the hard work this sector needs: And Daughter, Babaa (which also makes kids’ pieces), Soft Goat, Sheep Inc, Navy Grey —the only brand on this list focused solely on women’s knitwear (don’t miss their repaired and renewed program). These brands are far more transparent about their processes. And yes, they cost more—but that’s because they invest in quality materials and ethical production instead of cutting corners to compete on price.
Before you buy any cashmere, do yourself a favor and read Rachel’s piece. She breaks down fiber quality testing at FIT’s lab and exposes what’s happening with these $60 sweaters. It’s the education we all need.
Follow @theprophetpizza for fashion journalism that puts you in the room. Rachel uniquely portrays fashion as the trillion-dollar industry it is—not merely a runway spectacle. She investigates the practice of fashion, not just its PR, and reveals how it shapes both the economy and everyday life.
Read the full Washington Post article here.
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