Cashmere comes from the super‑soft undercoat of special goats that live in very cold, high‑altitude regions like Mongolia, northern China, Tibet, Afghanistan, and parts of Iran, India, and Pakistan. The name itself comes from “Kashmir,” a Himalayan region that historically produced some of the world’s most prized cashmere shawls.

What cashmere actually is

Cashmere is a natural fibre taken from cashmere (or Kashmir) goats, not from sheep or a brand name label. The fibres are extremely fine, light and soft, which is why cashmere feels smoother and warmer than most regular wool.

  • It comes from the goat’s soft inner coat (undercoat), not the coarse outer hair.
  • Only a small amount can be collected from each goat per year, which helps explain the high price.
  • True cashmere must be from these goats; blends or synthetics won’t feel or last the same way.

Where cashmere comes from geographically

Historically, cashmere was linked to the Kashmir region in the Himalayas, which gave the fibre its name and was famous for intricate shawls traded along old caravan routes. Today, most of the world’s cashmere comes from the high plateaus of Asia, where winters are extremely cold and goats grow very dense undercoats.

Main producing regions include:

  • Mongolia and northern/north‑west China (Inner Mongolia is particularly known for high‑quality cashmere)
  • Tibet and other Central Asian plateaus
  • Afghanistan, Iran, Nepal, northern India and Pakistan

Smaller volumes are also produced in places like Australia and New Zealand, but Asia still dominates global supply.

How cashmere is collected and made

Cashmere is harvested when goats naturally shed their winter undercoat in spring. Herders either gently comb or sometimes shear the animals, then separate the precious fine fibres from the coarser guard hairs.

Typical steps:

  1. Combing/collection – Goats are combed as they moult, gathering the loose undercoat.
  2. Sorting and cleaning – Fibres are sorted by length, colour and quality, then washed.
  3. Spinning – Clean fibres are spun into yarn, with different thicknesses for different garments.
  4. Knitting or weaving – Yarn becomes sweaters, scarves, shawls and other pieces.
  5. Dyeing and finishing – Fabrics are dyed (if needed) and finished to maximise softness and drape.

Because the fibre is scarce, labour‑intensive to collect and process, and comes from harsh environments, high‑quality cashmere is considered a luxury material.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.