Cashmere Brands Compared: How to Choose

Cashmere brands differ far more than the word "cashmere" suggests. The things that actually separate them are where the fibre comes from, whether it is dyed or left in its natural colour, how traceable it is, whether it is hand-made or machine-produced, and the price you pay for that combination. This guide compares the cashmere brands shoppers ask about most, on the dimensions that matter.

Full disclosure: Lumusae is our brand. We have kept this comparison factual and limited to each brand's own publicly stated positioning — the goal is to help you choose the right cashmere for you, not to tell you we win.

What actually separates cashmere brands?

Five things separate one cashmere brand from another: fibre origin (where the goats are and how fine the fibre is), colour approach (dyed vs undyed), traceability (can you verify what you bought), construction (hand-made vs machine, single-origin vs blended), and price relative to all of the above. A low price usually means a trade-off on one of the first four.

Fibre origin and grade

Cashmere comes from the undercoat of cashmere goats, and the fibre's fineness is measured in microns — the lower the number, the softer and lighter it feels. Most cashmere is Mongolian or Chinese; a smaller amount is Himalayan (Nepal). There is no official, regulated "grade" system, so treat any brand's grade label as its own claim, and look at the micron figure and single-origin sourcing instead.

Undyed vs dyed

Most cashmere is dyed to hit a colour range. Undyed cashmere is left in the fibre's natural colour — soft ivory, oat, fawn and grey — with no dyeing or bleaching step. Undyed pieces show the raw fibre quality honestly and skip the dye stage entirely; the trade-off is a limited, natural colour palette rather than bright shades.

Traceability and certification

Traceability is your proof that a piece is what it claims to be. Brands prove it in different ways: some publish supply-chain transparency, some source direct from herders, and some carry third-party certification. Lumusae is NPIA-certified — Nepal's government-recognised pashmina certifier — and every piece has a serial number you can verify.

Cashmere brands compared

The table below compares each brand on its own publicly stated positioning. Prices are approximate starting points for a basic sweater and change often — check each brand for current pricing.

A closer look at each brand

Each of these brands does something well. The right one depends on what you value most — price, transparency, heritage, or natural-colour craft.

NAADAM and Quince — value and access

NAADAM and Quince built their names on making cashmere affordable, both sourcing from Mongolia and selling more directly than traditional retailers. If your priority is getting into real cashmere at the lowest price, these are the names most often recommended — with the understanding that you are trading some of the sourcing and craft detail for that price.

Everlane and Johnstons of Elgin — transparency and heritage

Everlane leans on supply-chain transparency and Grade-A Mongolian fibre at a mid-range price. Johnstons of Elgin is a centuries-old Scottish mill that spins and weaves in-house, positioned firmly at the premium, heritage end. Both are strong picks if transparency or provenance matters more to you than the lowest price.

Les 100 Ciels — a natural-colour option

Les 100 Ciels is a London design-led label that, notably, offers an undyed cashmere line alongside its dyed range — one of the few larger names to do so. If you like the idea of natural-colour cashmere but want a European design house, it is worth a look.

Lumusae — undyed, traceable, hand-made

Lumusae takes a narrower path than any brand above: 100% undyed Himalayan Chyangra cashmere, hand-combed from the goats' natural moult and hand-knitted by artisans in Nepal, at roughly 16 microns. Every piece is NPIA-certified with a serial number you can verify, is Fair Trade, and ships duties-paid. The trade-off is honest: a natural colour palette and a small, made-to-last range rather than a wide catalogue. See the knitwear collection or The Original crewneck.

How to choose the right cashmere brand

Choose by your top priority. If it is the lowest price, look at the value-focused, factory-direct names. If it is heritage weaving, look to a Scottish mill. If it is natural-colour, traceable, single-origin cashmere you can verify, look for undyed Himalayan cashmere with third-party certification. Across all of them, check the micron figure, single-origin sourcing, and how the brand proves what it sells.

Frequently asked questions

Which cashmere brand is best? There is no single best — it depends on your priority. Value shoppers gravitate to Quince and NAADAM; transparency to Everlane; heritage to Johnstons of Elgin; and natural-colour, traceable, hand-made cashmere to undyed Himalayan brands like Lumusae.

Is cheap cashmere real cashmere? It can be 100% cashmere and still be lower quality — quality depends on fibre fineness, ply, single-origin sourcing, and construction, not just the "100% cashmere" label. Very low prices usually mean a trade-off somewhere, so check the details.

What makes undyed cashmere different? Undyed cashmere keeps the fibre's natural colour with no dyeing or bleaching step, so nothing is added to the colour and the raw fibre quality shows honestly. The trade-off is a natural palette rather than bright dyed shades. Learn more in how to choose undyed cashmere.

How do I verify a cashmere piece is genuine? Look for single-origin 100% cashmere (not a blend), a stated micron count, and third-party certification you can check. Every Lumusae piece is NPIA-certified and verifiable by serial number at our authenticity page.