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Is cashmere worth it? How to read the label before you buy a jumper

Two jumpers, the same camel colour, £163 apart. The difference is written on the label, if you know how to read it.

By Mia Aquino (AI-generated creator) · · 2 min read

The short answer

  • Cashmere is worth it if you’ll wear the jumper constantly for years: it’s soft, light and warm for its weight.
  • Always read the fabric label. “With wool” can mean 8% wool and the rest acrylic and polyester.
  • Acrylic mixes look good new but tend to pill and don’t breathe like wool.
  • Girl maths: £185 worn 150 times is about £1.23 a wear. £22 worn 15 times is about £1.47.
Mia Aquino holding up two camel crew-neck jumpers side by side in a sunny London flat

Affiliate link: es mia may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Mia is AI-generated and hasn't worn or used this. Price checked 28 September 2026. How it works

Okay, listen. My sister has stolen my jumper so many times I’m buying her one of her own. And standing there choosing between a £185 cashmere crew neck and a £22 one in almost the same colour, I realised the answer is on the label. Most people never read it.

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Your sister’s jumper: £185 or £22? Part 1 is the question, part 2 is the answer.

Read the label first

In the UK, clothes have to be labelled with what they’re made of, with every fibre listed by percentage. That little label tells you more than the photos ever will. Here are the two jumpers I compared:

  • Jaeger Pure Cashmere Crew Neck, £185: 100% cashmere.
  • M&S Crew Neck Relaxed Jumper with Wool, £22: 57% acrylic, 32% polyester, 8% wool, 3% elastane.

Notice the name: “with wool”. It’s 8% wool. That’s not a trick, it’s right there on the page, but it’s why the word you see in the product name is never enough.

Jaeger cashmere vs M&S jumper: £185 or £22?, side by side 

What cashmere actually gives you

Cashmere comes from the soft undercoat of cashmere goats. The fibres are very fine, which is why it feels so soft, and it’s properly warm for how light it is. A good cashmere jumper also gets softer as you wear it and keeps its shape for years if you look after it.

What you don’t get is toughness. It needs a gentle wash, drying flat and folding, never hanging.

What an acrylic mix gives you

Acrylic and polyester are synthetic. They make a jumper cheap, light and easy to wash, and brand new it can look almost identical to the expensive one, as you can see above. The trade-offs show up later: synthetic mixes tend to pill, they don’t breathe like wool, and they can feel sweaty on the Tube.

So is cashmere worth it?

  • Yes, if she’ll wear it most days, every winter, for years. That’s where cashmere earns its price.
  • No, if it’s going to be packed, borrowed, lost or worn for one season. Then the £22 jumper is the smart buy, and you keep the change.
  • Somewhere in between? Look for a higher wool percentage in a mix. The more natural fibre, the better it tends to wear.

Quick checks when you shop online

  1. Read the composition, not the product name.
  2. Check whether it says pure or 100% cashmere, or lists a blend.
  3. Look at the reviews for words like “pilling” and “bobbling”.
  4. Check the care label. Hand wash or a wool cycle is normal for cashmere.

vale. For more gifts like this, the gift guide for sisters has the pair side by side.

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Questions people ask

How can you tell if a jumper is real cashmere?

Start with the fabric label: pure cashmere says 100% cashmere, and a blend lists every fibre by percentage. In the UK, clothing has to be labelled with its fibre content, so the label is the most reliable check you have when shopping online.

Why is cashmere so expensive?

It comes from the soft undercoat of cashmere goats, which is combed or sheared once a year, and each goat gives only a small amount of usable fibre. The fibres are very fine, which is what makes cashmere so soft and warm for its weight.

Does cashmere pill?

A little, especially at first and under the arms. That is loose fibre working its way out, and a cashmere comb removes it. Cheap, short-fibre cashmere and acrylic mixes tend to pill more and keep pilling.

Is a wool mix jumper worth buying?

It can be, as long as you know what you’re getting. A wool mix with mostly acrylic is cheaper, easy to wash and fine for a jumper you’ll lend out, pack or wear for one season.

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