It’s holiday time and winter begs you to wrap yourself and your loved ones in warmth and luxury. The choices are many, but you might ask, “Merino or cashmere? And what is the difference?”
Merino wool comes from a domesticated strain of sheep, the Merino, which must be sheared in order to survive. If not sheared, the wool continues to grow and may cause health issues, including overheating and difficulty moving. Spain was the first country to breed this sheep and take economic advantage of its soft, fine wool. Before the 18th Century, Spain had a monopoly on merino and decreed export of this sheep a crime punishable by death. Much of modern merino wool now comes from Australia and New Zealand.
Cashmere comes from the winter undercoat of a goat found living on cold arid Asian plains. The finest fibres of cashmere are found in the fleece next to the goat’s body under its coarse outer coat. When the weather warms, the goats naturally shed their coats. At this time, cashmere can be collected by hand-combing or shearing. Separating out and cleaning the fine fibres of the fleece yield the beginnings of silky luxurious cashmere yarns and fabrics. It can require the hair of three goats to make one sweater.
Unfortunately, with cashmere now so much in favour, some goats have been sheared in mid-winter, stripping them of their warm coats and causing them to freeze to death. As well, herders raising larger number of goats to keep up with demand translates into loss of grassland habitats. Goats “browse” rather than graze, choosing to eat weeds, bushes, leaves, and tree bark, turning grasslands into deserts.
My conclusions: Make your holiday purchases thoughtfully. Keep warm. Find and wear your dad’s old sweater.
Hats by Tracy J 