About caring for fine wool fibers
Cashmere, yak, and camel wool are natural fibers from animals that live on the Mongolian steppe. From the cashmere goats on the open plains to the yaks in the highlands to the north and the camels in the Gobi Desert to the south—all have developed wool that insulates against -40°C winters, breathes in the summer heat, and “self-cleans” as the animal roams freely. These are the same properties the fibers bring into your home.
Caring for fine wool is therefore less about following rules and more about listening to the fabric: Wash it infrequently. Lay it flat to dry. Treat stains with patience. If a small hole appears, mend it before it gets bigger.
On this page, we’ll walk you through everyday use, washing, storage, and minor repairs—in the order you’re likely to encounter them. If you have any questions, feel free to email us or stop by our showroom in Søborg.
What the three fibers have in common
Cashmere, yak, and camel wool are all protein fibers—composed of keratin and covered with microscopic scales that lie side by side like roof tiles on a house. It is these scales that are key to both the wool’s properties and its care.
When fibers move gently, the scales slide against each other without any problem. But if the fibers are exposed to heat, friction, and alkaline soap at the same time, the scales become stuck together, and the fibers mat in a way that is difficult to fix. That is why you should wash in cold or lukewarm water, avoid wringing out the garment, and use a suitable wool detergent.
It is these same scales that make wool self-cleaning. They keep moisture and odors at bay, and an hour in the fresh air or the steam from a bath removes most of it. You don’t need to wash your cashmere clothes every time you wear them—quite the opposite.
These three fibers differ in fineness (cashmere is the finest, while yak and camel wool are slightly coarser), warmth, and "crimp." However, the way you wash and care for them is essentially the same.
On the next three pages, we’ll take a closer look
- The Three Fibers — More about cashmere, yak, and camel wool: where they come from, how they’re harvested, and what makes each fiber special.
- Care and Washing — Daily use, hand washing and machine washing, drying, storage, pilling, and stains.
- Repairs — What you can do yourself, which repair shops we recommend, and where we’re headed.