The luxury fiber cashmere is obtained from the soft winter undercoat of certain goats, especially cashmere goats.
A cashmere goat grows two layers of fiber: a fine, soft undercoat that provides insulation and a coarser outer layer called guard hair. Producers collect the undercoat during the spring moulting season, often by combing the animal as it naturally sheds its winter fleece. The fibers are then washed and de-haired to remove the guard hair before being spun into yarn.
Cashmere is prized because its fibers are exceptionally fine, lightweight, and warm for their weight. Quality depends on factors such as fiber diameter, length, color, and cleanliness. The term comes from Kashmir, the region historically associated with fine cashmere shawls, although much modern production takes place elsewhere.
Alpacas produce alpaca fiber, sheep produce wool, and rabbits can produce angora fiber. Those materials may also be soft and valuable, but they are not the source of true cashmere. China and Mongolia have been among the leading modern producers, and expanding goat herds have raised concerns about overgrazing in fragile grasslands.