We believe Kinalba cashmere to be the finest quality in the world. So once you’ve bought your premium accessory, what sort of maintenance and care does it need? Not all cashmere products should be viewed as being the same. For example, a cashmere garment can vary by its fibre quality, to its composition, whether it’s been woven or knitted, to the type of product. You can find various amounts of information online about caring for your cashmere. So be careful what sources you refer to and use. For your Kinalba accessories we’ve tried to answer all your questions in relation to caring for your scarf, stole, or throw.
First a note on Kinalba cashmere and why we believe it to be best in the world. Our 100% cashmere products are made with Inner Mongolian fibre. This region is recognised globally as producing the best quality cashmere. Provenance and source of the fibre matters.
If we get into a little bit of the technical side of manufacture – at Kinalba, the length of cashmere fibre used for weaving is between 34 – 36 mm. This is long. This is important because the longer the fibre, the less chance of pilling. The longer the fibre, the stronger the yarn. Which means your product is more durable. And when it comes to the diameter of the fibres – for Kinalba, we use fibres that are 14.5 – 15.5 micron. This means the fibres are extremely fine. And the finer the micron the softer it is.
If you buy a cheaper cashmere product, these scarves can often have 16-19 micron diameter and are usually made from Outer Mongolian fibre. This cashmere is coarser and does not feel as nice. Other manufacturers cut corners and that’s why those products are cheaper.
The good news is, if treated well, your Kinalba product should last a lifetime. Our products are not ‘fast fashion’ and can even be passed from generation to generation.
Stick to dry clean only which is the safest option. Kinalba cashmere products tend to be accessories rather than, say, clothing such as sweaters. Each Kinalba product has a fringe which would usually be damaged if using a fully immersive water washing process. No need to go overboard with the dry cleaning though. Clean infrequently and only when necessary.
You should not see any wear and tear at all with infrequent dry cleaning. In terms of colour degradation, our dyes used are ‘fast to light’. With dry cleaning, there will be no colour movement.
We advise that you don’t. Cashmere is delicately soft. When it gets wet, it will potentially change its form and feel. Water agitation can cause distortion, shrinkage, felting, and pilling. That beautiful, soft, fluffy scarf that you bought is best staying that way.
Our cashmere silk products are an intimate blend where careful dyeing techniques have been applied to ensure stability and dye-fastness. Any water-based washing process (above 25 degrees celsius) with soap and detergent may lead to colour migration. So like 100% cashmere, we recommend you only dry clean a cashmere/silk blend when absolutely necessary.
It comes down to your personal choice really. But the good news is you don’t actually have to do too much when it comes to Kinalba accessories if there’s no reason. If required, take your Kinalba product to a dry cleaner.
Pilling occurs when a delicate fibre such as cashmere gets wear. For example, the contact between your neck and scarf. You’ll notice little fluff balls occurring – these are called pills. This may be more noticeable on a new product that has a raised surface but don’t worry it will soon stop.
Cashmere products that are of lesser quality will be typically made with 28mm length fibres. The shorter the fibre the easier it is to pill but fortunately at Kinalba, we use longer fibres of 34-36mm, giving our products the best durability we can offer.
Fun fact: did you know the amount of pilling on any textile is measured by the Martindale Abrasion and Pilling Tester? This measurement technique is the worldwide standard method for determining the wear resistance of textiles and the resistance to pilling. This method was invented by Dr James Martindale, the then Principal of the Scottish College of Textiles, here in Galashiels. I guess we might be more excited about this than you!
Don’t panic. Soak as much up at the time as you can by gently dabbing with an absorbent paper tissue. If this does not resolve the issue, take your product to the dry cleaner or perhaps it’s time to treat yourself to a new scarf!
Remember never to put your item into the wash.
Our cashmere products have been manufactured by craftspeople who have decades of knowledge and experience in making globally-renowned quality accessories. We care for your cashmere product right from the start: from selecting and sourcing the cashmere fibre, quality checking throughout the weaving process and applying the perfect finish.
Love is more fun experienced than viewed so have fun with your cashmere and treat it like a loved one and it’ll pay you back over and over again. If you like to experience the warmth, softness and lustre of cashmere, with the right care and attention, Kinalba products will continue to give pleasure throughout your life.
Have your luxurious Kinalba product gift wrapped in elegant, sustainable packaging. Our gift to you is that it’s completely free of charge – as is delivery. We will handwrite your message for that personal touch. You can include this in the check out process before payment. Thank you for shopping with Kinalba x
Terms
Have your luxurious Kinalba product gift wrapped in elegant, sustainable packaging. Our gift to you is that it’s completely free of charge – as is delivery. We will handwrite your message for that personal touch. You can include this in the check out process before payment. Thank you for shopping with Kinalba x
Terms