Can I rub your belly? The undercoat of this Kashmir goat—and some of his friends—will be carefully plucked to create a cashmere sweater. The scarcity of the wool and the highly labor-intensive manner of collection adds to the cost of that sweater. (more) Why Is Cashmere Expensive? Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Why-Is-Cashmere-Expensive Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Apr 1, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot Cashmere is derived from the soft undercoat of the Kashmir goat, a breed that produces a limited amount of this precious fiber. Each goat yields only a few grams to about half a kilogram (1.1 pound) of cashmere annually, making it a scarce resource. To create a single sweater, the fleece of four to 6 goats is required, while an overcoat demands the production of 30 to 40 goats. This limited supply significantly contributes to the high cost of cashmere. The process of obtaining cashmere is labor-intensive, involving meticulous hand-combing or plucking of the fibers during the molting season. The ...(100 of 266 words)

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