| Alpaca | Cashmere | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical diameter | 18–32 µm | 14–19 µm |
| Source | Alpaca | Cashmere goat undercoat |
| Lanolin | No | No |
| Warmth | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Softness | ★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Durability | ★★★★ | ★★ |
| Luster | ★★★ | ★★ |
| Elasticity | ★★★ | ★★★ |
| Price | $$ | $$$ |
Bottom line
Warm for its weight, lanolin-free, silky hand; less elastic than wool.
Exceptionally soft but pills and wears faster than alpaca.
Choose alpaca for warm, drapey, lanolin-free garments; choose cashmere if you value softer. Blends often give the best of both.
Cashmere wool, usually simply known as cashmere, is a fiber obtained from cashmere goats, pashmina goats, and some other breeds of goat. It has been used to make yarn, textiles and clothing for hundreds of years. Cashmere is closely associated with the Kashmir shawl, the word "cashmere" deriving from an anglicization of Kashmir, when the Kashmir shawl reached Europe in the 19th century. Both the soft undercoat and the guard hairs may be used; the softer hair is reserved for textiles, while the coarse guard hair is used for brushes and other non-apparel purposes. Cashmere is a hygroscopic fiber, absorbing and releasing water from the air based on the surrounding environment. This helps regulate the body in both warm and cool temperatures.From Wikipedia — “Cashmere wool”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
FAQ
Is alpaca better than cashmere?
Alpaca is more durable and more lustrous. Cashmere is softer. Warm for its weight, lanolin-free, silky hand; less elastic than wool. Exceptionally soft but pills and wears faster than alpaca.
Is alpaca warmer than cashmere?
Cashmere is at least as warm as alpaca.
Is alpaca softer than cashmere?
It depends on the grade: fine alpaca (18–22 µm) is very soft, while cashmere typically measures 14–19 µm.