Low Price vs. High Price – Cashmere Sweaters
I am a cashmere addict. I love the baby-soft feel and the lightweight warmth. I will never forget buying my very first cashmere sweater, one I still own to this day. I parted with some cash for that sweater because I had to – years ago, the low-cost retailers had not jumped on the cashmere bandwagon. Now, you can find cashmere just about everywhere you go, including Wal-Mart.
But, are they the same? In a word, no. Experts say you can judge cashmere by its softness. A very soft yarn is a sign of high quality. If it feels coarse or fuzzy, it is a lesser quality cashmere. Ply can be an indication, but not always. Cashmere sweaters are either one- or two-ply. A two-ply yarn creates a sturdier knit, but it still may not be high quality. A manufacturer may add a ply, but if the cashmere itself is of a lesser quality, then the sweater will be, too. Low quality cashmere sweaters will pill, and will not retain their shape over time.
Here are two, similar cashmere sweaters, both cable knit V-necks, both in a range of colors. The first is from Wal-Mart. Their George brand sweater sells for $34.88 online.
The second is J.Crew with a retail price of $148. Ultra-premium cashmere sweaters can go for as much as $600, so for some people, this is still considered a “low price.” But for most of us, $150 is not pocket change.
There is definitely a difference in the quality of these sweaters. The J.Crew sweater, at over 4 times the price, is a higher quality garment, an investment piece you would be proud of for years and years. The George sweater is not an investment piece. It feels soft, but not as soft. It’s a “disposable” cashmere sweater.
So, here’s my advice. If you are shopping for your significant other, go for the quality. She or he is worth it, right? If you just want to have a cute sweater, maybe in a color you wouldn’t normally buy, go for the less expensive sweater and just have fun with it. Throw it on over a tee shirt with jeans and top it with a cute hoodie. Or wear it with pajama bottoms to lounge around the house in. You’d never do that with a $150 sweater, right?
In this battle between low and high price, it’s your call.
Cashmere, J.Crew, Wal-Mart, Sweaters, Gifts, Christmas
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