Cashmere is the very word that conjures up images of luxury, comfort, and warmth. The reality is that cashmere fabric is not actually made from the fur of cashmere goats; it's made from a type of goat wool that's been processed to give it a soft feel.

Cashmere is produced by shearing goats, usually in spring when the goats are shedding their winter coats. After shearing, the hair is collected and sorted according to its length, beginning with the longest strands and ending with the shortest.