Cashmere pilling: normal or a defect? And what you can do about it

You spent a lot on a cashmere jumper, and after wearing it a few times there are bobbles under the arms. The first question is almost always: is this normal, or did I buy poor quality?

In a nutshell

• Light pilling in the first weeks is normal for cashmere, even very good cashmere.
• A hole after wearing it only a few times is something else.
• With a comb, cold water and drying flat, cashmere stays beautiful for years.

Why does cashmere pill?

Cashmere is made of very fine, soft fibres. That is exactly what makes it so comfortable. Where the fabric rubs, under the arms, on the sleeves, against a bag, loose fibre ends work free and tangle into small bobbles. This happens mostly in the first weeks. If you remove them, it lessens over time.

When is it no longer pilling?

Pilling sits where there is friction and can be removed. A hole, a seam coming apart or fabric that has gone thin over a large area after a few wears is something else. Then write to us at store@aboutalexa.de, ideally with a photo, and we will take a look.

How to remove pilling

• With a cashmere comb or a fabric shaver, gently and in one direction.
• Lay the jumper flat on a table while you do it.
• Don't pick at it: that pulls fibres out of the knit.

How to care for cashmere

• Wash it rarely. Airing is often enough.
• By hand in cold water with a little wool detergent, or on the wool programme if the label allows.
• Don't wring it; roll it in a towel and dry it flat.
• Store it folded, not on a hanger.
• Give it a day's rest between two days of wear.

What justifies the price

Whether cashmere is good is not shown by pilling in the first weeks, but by how it looks after years. How to recognise quality when you buy is explained in our article on KUJTEN cashmere. Our selection is in the cashmere collection and at KUJTEN.