How to identify pashmina, cashmere, or silk?
Natural Fibers: Pashmina, Cashmere, and Silk
The most sought-after fibers are pashmina, cashmere, and silk.
- True pashmina is made from the hair of the neck and chin of the Himalayan goat.
- Cashmere is made from the hair of the entire surface of the goat (except the neck and chin).
- Wool is most often made from different breeds of sheep.
- There are also prestigious wools such as alpaca, angora, vicuña, camel, yak, etc.
- Silk is a natural protein fiber of animal origin. There is also silk made from plants or shells.
- Yarns can also come from plant fibers such as cotton, linen, etc.
- True pashmina is made from the hair of the neck and chin of the Himalayan goat.
- Cashmere is made from the hair of the entire surface of the goat (except the neck and chin).
- Wool is most often made from different breeds of sheep.
- There are also prestigious wools such as alpaca, angora, vicuña, camel, yak, etc.
- Silk is a natural protein fiber of animal origin. There is also silk made from plants or shells.
- Yarns can also come from plant fibers such as cotton, linen, etc.
Artificial and Synthetic Fibers for Scarves
Artificial fibers and synthetic fibers: what's the difference?
- Artificial fibers with chemical treatment (from natural raw materials).
- Viscose (wood cellulose), rayon, modal, etc.
- Synthetic fibers with chemical treatment (polyamide (nylon), polyester, elastane, acrylic, etc.).
- Artificial fibers with chemical treatment (from natural raw materials).
- Viscose (wood cellulose), rayon, modal, etc.
- Synthetic fibers with chemical treatment (polyamide (nylon), polyester, elastane, acrylic, etc.).
How to recognize a natural or synthetic scarf?
The lighter test: a simple method to identify a fiber
It's difficult to tell if it's a natural or chemical scarf. Moreover, some chemical fibers can be softer than some natural fibers. It's still chemical, and it's much less warm around the neck, but one can easily be fooled.
You want to be sure! You want to know yourself if your scarf is natural or chemical, without going through an analysis laboratory or a specialist? Nothing could be simpler! You need to cut a small piece of thread from your scarf (from the fringes, for example) or a stray thread on your scarf, and get a lighter.
What's remarkable about the lighter test is that all natural fibers react in the same way when you burn your thread. It should produce a flame that extinguishes almost immediately and forms a small black ball at the end of the thread. You must immediately check if this black ball can be crushed between your fingers. If so, the fiber is natural.
It's difficult to tell if it's a natural or chemical scarf. Moreover, some chemical fibers can be softer than some natural fibers. It's still chemical, and it's much less warm around the neck, but one can easily be fooled.
You want to be sure! You want to know yourself if your scarf is natural or chemical, without going through an analysis laboratory or a specialist? Nothing could be simpler! You need to cut a small piece of thread from your scarf (from the fringes, for example) or a stray thread on your scarf, and get a lighter.
What's remarkable about the lighter test is that all natural fibers react in the same way when you burn your thread. It should produce a flame that extinguishes almost immediately and forms a small black ball at the end of the thread. You must immediately check if this black ball can be crushed between your fingers. If so, the fiber is natural.
Test result: natural or chemical?
To summarize: if it doesn't form a black ball that crushes and disappears, leaving a little black on your finger, then it's chemical.
To summarize: if it doesn't form a black ball that crushes and disappears, leaving a little black on your finger, then it's chemical.
How a synthetic fiber reacts to the fire test
Regarding chemical:
- It produces a flame that lasts without forming a ball.
- The thread burns without forming a ball.
- A hard ball that doesn't crush.
- And if a chemical smell is released, it is indeed a chemical product.
Regarding chemical:
- It produces a flame that lasts without forming a ball.
- The thread burns without forming a ball.
- A hard ball that doesn't crush.
- And if a chemical smell is released, it is indeed a chemical product.
Discover in our Pashmina, Cashmere, Silk collection
100% Cashmere Pashmina
Discover our 100% cashmere pashminas from India.
→ Discover our 100% Cashmere Pashminas
Women's cashmere scarves
Discover our patterned cashmere scarves for women.
→ Discover our women's cashmere scarves
Silk stoles
Discover our soft and elegant Indian silk stoles.
→ Discover our chic silk stoles
Discover our 100% cashmere pashminas from India.
→ Discover our 100% Cashmere Pashminas
Women's cashmere scarves
Discover our patterned cashmere scarves for women.
→ Discover our women's cashmere scarves
Silk stoles
Discover our soft and elegant Indian silk stoles.
→ Discover our chic silk stoles