What Is Khullu And Why Is It Better Than Cashmere? (2024)
The short answer is no. Having said that when compared to synthetic fibers wool is regenerative and biodegradable.
Cashmere is luxurious and soft, and the fibers contain all the many amazing properties of wool.
Some consider their quality cashmere garments to be heirlooms or timeless staples in their closet.
However, cashmere, once a luxury, is now everywhere: from fast fashion brands to premium luxury labels.
What’s not so far-reaching, however, is the knowledge of the supply chain behind cashmere.
Cashmere fiber comes from goats that provide a small amount of usable fiber each year… it takes up to 3 goats to produce a sweater and 6 produce a jacket.
Due to the globally rising demand, fiber from cashmere goats has continued to be more lucrative than other wools, which has resulted in a shocking increase in the number of cashmere goats herded throughout China and Mongolia.
With cashmere garments selling for anywhere between $30 to >$1,000, and with herd numbers growing by nearly 5 million a year, the real “scarce” resource isn’t goats or their wool, but instead, it’s grasslands for grazing.
Cashmere goats have sharp hooves which cause them to trample grasslands and long tongues, which allow them to rip plants from their roots when snacking.
Consider the amount of cashmere that a single goat can shed each spring. The most productive goats will produce at most 250 grams of wool a year.
Due to their relatively low wool yield, for herders to collect competitive volumes, they need to have many goats, usually grazing within a small area.
Overgrazing stresses the natural ecological role goats play in the region, and as a result, 90% of Mongolia is currently at risk of turning into a barren desert (already linked to a 4° F rise in regional temperature).
Cashmere goats are already responsible for transforming 70% of Mongolia's grasslands into deserts.
The degradation of grasslands immediately impacts more than half of the population of Mongolia who relies on and has deep ties to the land.
Indirectly, the effect of overgrazing on climate change will create significant long-term consequences globally (dust storms, temperature increase, drought, etc.)
Yak fiber is the term commonly used to refer yak fiber wool produced from the coat hair of yaks (Bos grunniens), a long-haired bovine mainly found in the Himalayan region, Tibetan plateau, and some areas of Mongolia and Central Asia.
, AKA “khullu” is not only a cashmere alternative because it's similarly soft and comfy to wear all the time. Khullu is also considered an alternative because it's more sustainable, breathable, durable, and warmer than cashmere.
Yak fibres are sustainable alternatives to cashmere and wool — they are 30% warmer than wool, 1.6 times more breathable than cashmere and have a fine, smooth texture. As a comparison, an individual yak fibre is 18-20 microns with a length of 30-40mm, and cashmere is between 14-30 microns and 20.5-90mm long.
Its fibres are less likely to pilling and your Alpaca wool clothes last longer! Secondly, cashmere is more expensive because it takes many more goats to obtain the same amount of raw material. Indeed, a cashmere goat produces more or less 150 grams of fibre per year while an Alpaca produces 2.5 kg.
Both the yak and the alpaca lack the worldwide recognition of cashmere, but products made from these fabrics are of very high quality and they are becoming very popular. If you are planning on buying a warm and soft sweater, these two premium natural materials are also an ideal choice.
What is The Softest Type of Wool? The softest (and also rarest) wools in the world can even get as low as 11μm in the case of Vicuña. Similarly, Qiviut fiber from muskox is considered softer than cashmere coming in as fine as 13μm.
But a happy medium exists: the fine-gauge merino sweater. Merino wool is significantly cheaper and more durable than cashmere yet still pretty soft, said Tom Scott, an assistant professor specializing in fashion design and knitwear at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology.
Warmth: Cashmere wool provides more warmth than standard sheep wool. Durability: The thicker fibres of sheep wool are more durable than cashmere. Breathability: Cashmere breathes exceptionally well. Even though sheep wool is the gold standard of breathable fabrics, cashmere easily takes the prize.
"Why is yak wool so expensive?" Answer: a) there are only about 12 million domesticated yaks on the entire planet compared to 1.1 billion sheep. b) Yak wool is gathered only ONCE A YEAR by hand when spring arrives. Additionally, the guard hairs and undercoat fibers are sorted by hand.
Merino Wool: Less itchy compared to traditional wool due to finer fibers. However, some individuals with sensitive skin might still find it slightly itchy. Cashmere: Rarely itchy, as the fibers are extremely fine and soft. It's often preferred for direct skin contact, especially by those with sensitive skin.
On a microscopic level, wool fibers have a scaled surface that causes them to be itchy to some people. Alpaca fur doesn't have this scaled texture, meaning it won't bother sensitive skin. For people with allergies to animal fibers, alpaca wool is a chance to be included.
Alpaca sweaters are considered luxury items, and they're well worth it. They're soft and warm, durable, sustainable, and eco-friendly. Alpaca is breathable and moisture-wicking—it's the perfect material for cold-weather apparel. And it looks good too!
Well it means they are highly durable and can be used around the house in place of a slipper. Cashmere bed socks are best worn if you are not planning on moving around much…. The alpaca fibre is hollow, which traps air within and makes them even warmer than cashmere.
Cashmere is the warmest wool out of the two. It can be seven to eight times warmer than merino wool. However, don't let this put you off merino wool if you spend a lot of time in the outdoors. They will both keep you warm during extreme conditions if worn correctly, making them great for sports like skiing.
When we talk about real cashmere, we of course mean material that is 100% cashmere, with no additions of other wools, or synthetic materials. Pure cashmere is a very luxurious and prestigious material, and unfortunately, its renown attracts fakes.
Cashmere is considered to be far less itchy than other wools. Cashmere does not contain lanolin, so it's an entirely hypoallergenic alternative to merino and other fibres. However, cashmere is a natural yarn and this can cause mild irritation for some people.
Why choose yak wool? Yak wool is hollow, allowing for air within the fibre to increase insulation. It is also very fine, trapping air between the multiple fibres to keep you warm. Yak wool is highly flexible, which means it is comfortable against your skin since the fibres bend and adapt to your movement.
The coarse hair and the fine down find many uses from making ropes to garments to tents. The hair from the yak's tail is used ceremonially and as a fly-whisk. Yak heads and tails are also made into ornaments and given as gifts.
Vicuna Wool is the most expensive wool as it comes from Vicuna, which is a wild camelid that lives in the high Andes mountains of Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. This fine wool costs from $400 to $600 per kilo of unprocessed fibre.
Introduction: My name is Geoffrey Lueilwitz, I am a zealous, encouraging, sparkling, enchanting, graceful, faithful, nice person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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