Basically, there are two types of cashmere colors. The first one is an original color of cashmere. In other words the natural one. The second one is regular dyed in color. Last decade, world cashmere producers tend to prefer white cashmere. For instance: almost 99% of Chinese cashmere is white. They thought that they would die with white cashmere whatever color they want.
Regular dyed cashmere fabric is enough treated with bleaches, chemicals and metals, synthetic dyes, softeners, and other substances that damages cashmere raw fiber’s physical structure and properties. To hide the frayed threads, regular cashmere is typically made with additional washes and softeners.
So far I know that Mongolian cashmere has four colors by nature. In today’s market, it is a natural product that does not contain dyes. Factories such as Gobi, Eermel, and Cashmere Holding have the advantage of producing products made in their own colors without adding dyes that are said to be organic.
The quality of cashmere is so unique because buyers value it far above others. Unbleached and undyed cashmere fibers have four natural colors, which are the colors of Mongolian goats. If you visit some cashmere boutique stores, you will noticed those cashmere clothes with natural colors.
Table of Contents
Cashmere organic color by category:
– Warm Grey
– Brown
– Beige
– White
The following figure is illustrated Mongolian cashmere color by category:
Cashmere color and sustainability
Sustainability is becoming more important in cashmere production. Globally, textile production consumes a lot of water. Paint will come on it. Natural color is becoming more important when it comes to saving water and using fewer chemicals.
The world has become more important to healthy consumption. In addition to healthy food, I try to use healthy clothes and products. Natural color is the advantage of Mongolian wool and cashmere. In Europe, the question of where to dispose of people’s old clothes is raised. On the other hand, fashion relies heavily on color. Then color is essential to fashion. One of the best qualities of cashmere is its ability to produce stunning hues, which is crucial for sweaters in particular. Throwing away clothes with chemical dyes is considered to pollute the soil. But natural wool cashmere clothes are liquid in the soil. It is one of the biggest reasons to support the cashmere clothings.
How to dye cashmere?
Each factories has own technology and methods to dye cashmere fibers. Basically, there are two types of cashmere dyeing method:
- Conventional;
- Low-impact dyeing method.
However conventinal dye is cheap, it would be harmful and may include heavy metals or carcinogens. If you’ve bought a new shirt and gotten a rash, dye can be one reason. Low impact dyes which does not create any allergic reactions. In addition,low-impacy dyeing technology access less water and rinsing, lower amounts of necessary inputs like salts or soda ash, and work at lower temperatures. Also abput 40-50% of conventional dye might stay on the fabric, the absorption rate for low impact dyes is 70-80% whic means higher than another one.
A low-impact cashmere dye is known as Oeko-Tex Standard 100 (an international certification institution) as eco-friendly and sustainable. In other words, It needs less water in the rinse process. Thus , the dyes will have low impact on the around environment. It is very expensive method. But it does not involve heavy chemical metals (like chrome, copper, and zinc).There is less acids or alkalis need to be added to the water. Further more , it is bond with the garment fibers rather than left chemical elements inside the fiber. Late technological breakthrough have created fiber-reactive dyes with colors that are brighter and richer, andit can provide excellent color properties to the cashmere.
Cashmere dyeing process:
Generally it includes three different process:
- Fibre dyeing – It includes the carded cashmere prior to weaving, which gets the best result.
- Yarn dyeing – It involves dyeing the spools of raw wool thread after spinning.
- Piece dyeing – It is not basically expensive technique. The cahsmere garments is woven (or knitted) in its natural colour and then dyed into different kind of colours.