Why Mongolian & Himalayan Cashmere Is the Ultimate Luxury Fibre

When it comes to luxury textiles, very few fibres can rival the character of Mongolian and Himalayan cashmere. It is soft without being fragile, warm without being heavy, rare without feeling ostentatious. For centuries, this remarkable fibre has been synonymous with refinement and comfort, first in royal courts and now in considered, design-led homes around the world.

The story of true luxury cashmere begins high in the mountains. In the Himalayan and Mongolian plateaus, winters are long, dry and brutally cold. To survive, local goats develop an exceptionally fine, dense undercoat that traps warmth close to the body. It is this ultra-soft under-fleece, not the coarse outer hair, that becomes cashmere. The harsher the climate, the finer and more insulating the fibre tends to be.

Unlike mass-produced wool, cashmere is collected only once a year, during the natural moulting season. Ethical herders do not shear the goats; instead, they gently comb the undercoat by hand, allowing loose fibres to be removed without stress or discomfort. From each animal, only a small amount of usable fibre can be harvested. By the time the fibre has been washed, sorted and dehaired, the yield is remarkably small, which is why true cashmere is inherently rare.

One of the most striking qualities of Mongolian and Himalayan cashmere is its fineness. The diameter of a fibre is measured in microns, and the lower this number, the softer the fibre will feel against the skin. While many types of wool sit around 25 to 30 microns, premium cashmere can be as fine as 14 to 16 microns. This microscopic difference is exactly what you feel when you run your hand across a cashmere throw: there is no itch, no scratch, just a smooth and almost weightless softness.

Cashmere’s structure also explains its unique warmth. The fibres are naturally crimped and slightly hollow, which allows them to trap air and create an insulating layer that keeps heat in while still allowing the fabric to breathe. A cashmere blanket or throw from high-altitude fibre can therefore be significantly warmer than a much heavier wool equivalent. You experience this as a gentle, cocooning warmth rather than a stifling heaviness.

At Umrao Cashmere, we insist on working only with carefully selected, high-grade fibres from these demanding environments. But sourcing is just the beginning. Once the fibre reaches Nepal, it passes through the hands of spinners, dyers and weavers who understand how to respect its natural qualities. Each throw, blanket or accessory is either hand-woven or hand-finished, and then checked repeatedly for consistency, handle and drape.

This combination of origin and craftsmanship is what truly sets Mongolian and Himalayan cashmere apart. The mountain climate creates the raw potential; human skill translates that potential into something beautifully usable. When you wrap yourself in a cashmere throw made from these fibres, you are experiencing a chain of care that stretches from remote herders to dedicated artisans and finally into the calm of your own home.

In a world full of synthetic alternatives and fast-changing trends, Mongolian and Himalayan cashmere stands for something different: quiet, enduring luxury. It is an investment in quality that you can feel every time you touch it, and one that, when cared for well, will accompany you for many years to come.