Cashmere has been a popular choice of fabric for decades, with lightweight pashminas, soft jumpers and timeless cardigans having been staples in women’s wardrobes for years.
While the wool used to be seen as a luxury item only more mature ladies would try to get their hands on, young fashionistas are starting to see the benefit of these lifelong pieces.
Indeed, one of the selling points of a cashmere sweater or pair of gloves is that the quality is so good, they last years, keeping you warm each winter.
While young people used to be more interested in fast fashion and traditionally preferred to swap their closets every season, this is no longer the case.
Thanks to becoming more conscious about the environment, many people believe the end of fast fashion is not far away.
Fashion production alone contributes to ten per cent of global carbon emissions, and this could worsen if people continue to buy and throw out clothes as much as they have been doing for the last 20 or so years.
In fact, fashion production is the second largest consumer of water in the world, and 85 per cent of textiles end up in landfill.
The manmade fibres are also incredibly bad for the environment, and these microplastics account for nearly a third of the plastic that pollutes the ocean.
These facts, as well as the warning from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation that 26 per cent of carbon emissions will be down to the fashion industry by 2050 without a change in behaviour, are forcing young people to reconsider their clothing choices.
As a result, more are beginning to look at naturally-sourced materials and clothes that will last years.
Cashmere falls into both these categories, with the wool being found on cashmere goats from Mongolia, China, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran.
Clothes that are typically made from cashmere include jumpers, scarves, shawls, hats, gloves, and cardigans. Therefore, depending on their design, these will never go out of fashion.
Vogue Business also recognsied some brands are creating designs that are slightly edgier to appeal to the younger market.
“Emerging brands specialising in the fabric but with fresh takes - modern styles, inclusive styling and wide product ranges - are positioned for a windfall,” it stated.
Celebrities are leading the trend, with the likes of Frankie Bridges, Gigi Hadid, and Emma Watson all being big fans of the fabric.
Even Princess Charlotte, who is only eight years old, has been pictured wearing cashmere jumpers in the past.
For instance, the third-in-line to the throne sported a pretty cable knit cashmere sweater when helping to renovate Scouts huts in Slough recently.
She was taking part in the Big Help Out events, which were held over the King’s Coronation weekend (May 6th to 8th).
She also wore a very similar blue jumper when posing for her seventh birthday photo, sitting in a field of bluebells while wearing a white polka dot polo shirt underneath.
The princess may only be eight now, but she certainly seems to have an eye for fashion, as well as an interest in sustainability.
