When it comes to luxurious knitwear, cashmere and merino are two of the finest natural fibres. Both are loved for their exceptional softness, natural warmth and beautiful feel against the skin. Yet while they share many of the same qualities, each one has its own unique benefits. In this guide, we'll look at the merino and cashmere benefits so you can decide which is the best wool for you.
What are cashmere and merino?
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What is cashmere?
Known for its luxury, cashmere is one of the finest and softest animal fibres.
It comes from the downy fibres of the cashmere goats that live in a region stretching from northern China into Mongolia – places with freezing winter conditions. The goats survive the season by growing an extra-fine coat underneath their coarser guard hair.
When springtime comes around and the animals naturally shed their coats, skilled herdsmen collect the fine undercoat fibres using a special comb.
What is merino?
Just like cashmere, merino is known for its beautifully soft, luxurious feel. One key difference, though, is that it comes from merino sheep rather than goats, with much of the world's merino wool produced in Australia and New Zealand.
The sheep are shorn once a year and their fleeces naturally regrow. Once shorn, the fibres are sorted, ensuring only the finest make it to the cleaning and spinning stages.
Most of our merino is spun in Italy, where skills passed down through generations create exceptionally smooth, consistent yarns.
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Cashmere vs merino wool: how are they different?
What are the cashmere benefits?
Incredible softness
Softness is one of the key cashmere benefits. Nothing quite matches it. If you're looking for truly indulgent natural fibres against your skin, cashmere is a sublime choice.
Warm
Cashmere is incredibly warm and provides excellent insulation in chilly weather. This is down to its fine fibres, which help keep heat close to the skin in chilly weather.
Breathable
Cashmere offers excellent warmth while remaining breathable, helping to regulate your body temperature and keep you comfortable on milder days too.
Renewable and natural
Cashmere is a renewable natural fibre because the goats' fine undercoats grow back when the next winter comes around.
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What are the merino benefits?
Softness
Merino is lovely and soft, especially in premium pieces made from extra-fine fibres. Finer fibres bend naturally against the skin, creating a beautifully soft and comfortable feel.
Warm
Like cashmere, merino is wonderfully warm because it creates tiny pockets of air that help lock in heat, making it perfect for chilly winter days.
Breathable
Merino is great for temperature regulation, helping to wick moisture away and keep you cool in summer and warm in winter. This makes it a great choice for all year round and gives you plenty of opportunities to wear.
Durability
Merino wool is known for its durability and can withstand more wash and wear than cashmere. This is all down to the elasticity of the fibres – merino fibres are more elastic than cashmere fibres, helping your merino jumpers hold their shape well over the years.
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Cashmere vs merino wool: which is softer?
Both fibres are known for their softness, but a delicate, silky feel is one of the key cashmere benefits. The downy undercoats of the cashmere goat are some of the silkiest natural fabrics you can find, typically measuring just 14-18 microns in diameter, compared with around 30 microns for coarser traditional wool.
Merino, like cashmere, will vary in quality and fineness, but will likely feel less silky than cashmere – but still far gentler than most regular sheep’s wool.
Cashmere vs merino: which is easier to care for?
In general, merino is easier to care for than cashmere because you can usually machine wash it on a gentle cycle using a wool-safe detergent. Some cashmere pieces can be machine washed too, while others are better hand washed in lukewarm water. We recommend you check your garment’s care label before washing.
When it comes to drying your cashmere and merino wool jumpers, the important thing is not to hang them, as this will stretch the fibres. Instead, carefully reshape them and lay them on a towel on a flat surface to dry, with the sleeves folded inward.
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Discover cashmere and merino pieces at David Nieper
From exceptional softness to lasting versatility, there are many merino and cashmere benefits to enjoy – the right choice simply depends on what matters most to you. Choose cashmere when you want irresistible luxury and a beautifully silky feel, or reach for merino when you’re looking for natural warmth, everyday versatility and sublime softness.
Discover our new autumn collection for luxury knitwear you’ll love to wear. From beautifully soft cardigans to cosy jumpers for colder days, each piece is designed to bring warmth, comfort and enduring style to your wardrobe.