Cashmere is one of the few materials where doing less is more. We choose pure cashmere when the garment is asked to insulate and drape at the same time — a wool coat needs structure, but a knit needs softness that breathes. It is the fibre we reach for when warmth has to feel weightless.
What pure cashmere actually is
Cashmere comes from the soft undercoat of cashmere goats, combed by hand each spring in the foothills of the Himalayan plateau. A single goat produces around 150 grams of usable fibre per year. A standard OURYE cardigan uses the equivalent of four to five goats. This is the maths of slowness — and the reason a piece of pure cashmere costs what it costs.
Why grade matters
Not all cashmere is equal. The fibre is graded by length and diameter — the longer and finer the strands, the softer the finished piece and the longer it resists pilling. The cashmere in our edit comes from the spring combings, where the under-coat is at its longest. It is a slower, less aggressive harvest than late-season cuts.
Why ply matters too
Two-ply cashmere holds shape through wear; single-ply drapes more elegantly but loses structure faster. Our cardigans and pullovers are predominantly two-ply for everyday rotation; the lighter slip-layer pieces are single-ply for soft drape under a jacket.
Why the long winter favours it
The European winter is long and damp, not cold and dry. The fibres your wardrobe needs are ones that hold warmth without trapping moisture — cashmere does both. Brushed merino comes close, but lacks the lightness. Cotton is wrong twice over. The cashmere in our curated edit is built to be layered under a wool overcoat without bulk and over a silk slip without scratch.
Care that lasts a decade
Cool hand-wash or dry-clean only. Reshape, dry flat. Never tumble dry. Fold rather than hang — gravity stretches knitwear over time. Store with cedar or lavender against moths. A good cashmere piece, treated correctly, will outlast three seasons of fast-fashion alternatives before it shows wear — and even then, it pills into something softer rather than worse.
The first wash
Your first cool hand-wash is the most important. Use a gentle wool detergent, lukewarm water, and zero agitation. Press the water out — never wring. Lay flat on a clean towel away from heat. The fibres relax and bloom; the garment softens for the rest of its life.
Cashmere in the OURYE edit
Our complete edit features cashmere across cardigans, fine-knit pullovers, and the scarves we draw inspiration from. Each piece is selected by material first. Read more about the fibres we work with or write to us at contact@ourye.com.
Considered comfort. Pieces meant to be reached for, not replaced.