Cashmere Grade Classification Guide
Know What You're Buying
Published: April 12, 2026 | Reading time: 7 minutes
The Three Grades
Grade A (Premium)
- Fiber diameter: 14-16 microns
- Length: 36-45mm
- Source: Baby goat undercoat (first combing)
- Feel: Buttery soft, no itch
- Price: $150-500 per sweater
- Lifespan: 10-20 years with care
Grade B (Standard)
- Fiber diameter: 16-19 microns
- Length: 30-36mm
- Source: Adult goat undercoat
- Feel: Soft, slight itch possible
- Price: $80-200 per sweater
- Lifespan: 5-10 years
Grade C (Economy)
- Fiber diameter: 19-30 microns
- Length: 25-30mm
- Source: Mixed fibers, outer coat included
- Feel: Coarse, noticeable itch
- Price: $30-80 per sweater
- Lifespan: 2-5 years
How to Test Cashmere Quality
The Touch Test:
- Grade A: Feels like butter, no resistance
- Grade B: Soft but some texture
- Grade C: Scratchy, coarse feeling
The Stretch Test:
- Gently stretch fabric
- Good cashmere: Returns to shape
- Poor cashmere: Stays stretched or pills immediately
The Burn Test (Destructive):
- Pull a few fibers, burn them
- Real cashmere: Burns slowly, smells like burning hair, turns to ash
- Synthetic: Melts, plastic smell, hard bead forms
Red Flags (Fake Cashmere)
- ❌ Price under $50 for sweater
- ❌ Label says "cashmere blend" without percentage
- ❌ Too perfect (no natural variation)
- ❌ Heavy pilling after first wear
- ❌ Shiny appearance (synthetic fibers)
Country of Origin Matters
| Origin | Quality | Notes |
|---|
| Inner Mongolia (China) | Best | Finest fibers, coldest climate |
| Mongolia | Excellent | Traditional herding, long fibers |
| Afghanistan | Good | Coarser but durable |
| Iran | Good | Medium grade |
| Scotland/Italy | Variable | Processing quality high, raw fiber imported |
💡 Best Value: Grade B from Inner Mongolia. 80% of Grade A quality at 50% of the price.