What Real Cashmere Feels Like
Cashmere is known as one of the softest, warmest, and most luxurious natural fibers in the world. Because of this, many customers want to buy real cashmere, but they worry about getting fake products. With so many options online, it is easy to feel confused. As a factory that works with cashmere every day, we understand how to recognize real cashmere and how to avoid fake ones. In this guide, we will teach you simple, clear, and effective methods to identify authentic cashmere—no technical background needed.
Whether you are a customer, a new buyer, or simply curious about the luxury fiber, this article will help you feel confident when choosing cashmere products.
What Real Cashmere Feels Like
The easiest way to recognize real cashmere is through touch. Cashmere has a very unique feel that is difficult for fake materials to copy.
Soft but not slippery
Real cashmere feels incredibly soft—but not in the same way as polyester. Polyester or acrylic often feel “smooth in an artificial way.” Real cashmere feels natural, warm, and slightly fluffy.
Warm immediately when touched
Cashmere warms up instantly when you place your hand on it. Synthetic fibers take longer to warm or stay cool to the touch.
Lightweight but still warm
Real cashmere is warm but not heavy. Acrylic or wool blends can feel thicker and heavier but not as warm.
If the material feels rough, cold, plastic-like, or too shiny, it is likely fake or blended with low-quality fibers. If you want to understand why real cashmere feels so different on the skin, you can read our article Why Cashmere Feels So Special for a deeper explanation.
Look at the Yarn: Real Cashmere Fibers Are Very Fine
Real cashmere fibers are extremely fine—only 14–19 microns. For non-professionals, you can check these signs:
The surface looks slightly fuzzy
Cashmere naturally has a soft halo. Fake cashmere often looks overly smooth or too flat.
Fibers are short and delicate
If you gently pull on the fabric, real cashmere fibers may show tiny natural fuzziness. Acrylic usually has long, plastic-like fibers that stretch without breaking.
The knit is tight but soft
Real cashmere sweaters feel soft but don’t lose shape. Fake cashmere tends to be too stretchy or stiff.
To see how authentic cashmere fibers are collected and processed from goat to garment, check our guide How Cashmere Is Made.
Check the Label (But Don’t Fully Trust It)
Many fake products use labels like:
“100% cashmere”
“Cashmere feeling”
“Cashmere touch”
“Cashmere blend”
But labels can lie.
To identify authenticity, look for:
✔ 100% Cashmere
This should mean pure cashmere, but only trust it if the brand is reliable.
✔ Cashmere Blend
This means mixed fibers. It’s not fake, but also not pure. Common blends:
95% cashmere + 5% wool
90% cashmere + 10% silk
70% cashmere + 30% wool
If the price is very low, even if the label says “100% cashmere,” it likely isn’t true.
The Price Tells You a Lot
Cashmere is rare and expensive to produce. One goat produces very little cashmere yearly, and the process involves combing the goat by hand. Because of this, real cashmere will never be extremely cheap.
✔ If a “100% cashmere sweater” costs under $50, it is almost always fake.
✔ Real cashmere sweaters usually cost $100–$300 from factories.
✔ Premium brands cost more, but the material cost itself is high.
Very low prices = extremely high chance of fake cashmere. If you are choosing cashmere as a winter or holiday gift, our Christmas Cashmere Gift Guide can help you find high-quality options.
The Burn Test (Only for Small Yarn Samples)
Warning: Do NOT burn your clothing.
This test is only for small fiber samples if you are buying yarn or checking material in a safe way.
If you burn a tiny thread:
Real cashmere
Burns slowly
Smells like burning hair
Turns into a soft, dark ash that crumbles easily
Fake cashmere (acrylic or polyester)
Melts quickly
Smells like burning plastic
Forms a hard bead that you cannot crush
This method is accurate, but only safe when done on loose fibers—not clothing.
Pilling Test
People think pilling is bad. Actually, real cashmere will pill—especially at the beginning.
Real cashmere pills slightly
This is normal and caused by short, fine fibers.
Fake cashmere pills excessively
Acrylic or low-quality blends produce big, hard, repeated pills.
Pilling is not a sign of fake material.
The type of pilling helps you identify the quality.
Stretch Test
Gently stretch a part of the clothing and release it.
✔ Real cashmere
Returns to original shape
Has natural elasticity
Doesn’t stay stretched
✔ Fake cashmere
Keeps the stretched shape
Feels loose or baggy
Lacks natural bounce
This is an easy and safe test you can do in any physical store.
Look at the Stitching and Craftsmanship
High-quality cashmere products usually have:
✔ Tight, clean stitching
✔ Smooth edges
✔ Consistent texture
✔ No loose threads
Fake cashmere items often have:
Uneven knitting
Poor stitching
Messy seams
Weak shoulder structure
Good material + bad craftsmanship = bad final product.
So you need to look at both.
Buying from Trusted Sources Is the Most Important
If you want to avoid fake cashmere completely, the safest method is:
✔ Buy from factories
✔ Buy from brands that specialize in cashmere
✔ Buy from sellers who offer material tests
✔ Avoid extremely cheap platforms
Factories like ours often offer:
Material testing
Fiber inspection
Professional certificates
Transparent production process
This is why brand owners and wholesalers prefer working directly with factories—they want to guarantee the authenticity of cashmere products.
Summary: Easy Ways to Tell Real Cashmere
Here is the simplest checklist:
✔ Soft and warm when touched
✔ Lightweight
✔ Natural fuzz
✔ No plastic shine
✔ Returns to shape after stretching
✔ Smells like hair if burned (not recommended for clothing)
✔ Higher price (not too cheap)
✔ Good craftsmanship
✔ Buy from professional sources
If a product fails more than 2 of these tests, it is likely fake.
