Lead times are one of the most misunderstood parts of working with a knitwear factory. For new designers and emerging brands, they can feel mysterious, unpredictable, or even frustrating, especially when you’re eager to launch a collection or fulfil early orders. But behind every timeline sits a chain of skilled people, specialist machinery, yarn suppliers, and quality‑control steps that all need to align. This article unpacks what actually happens behind the scenes, why cert

FW26 is shaping up to be a season where knitwear quietly takes centre stage, not through gimmicks, but through refinement, tactility, and a renewed respect for craftsmanship. Across Milan, Paris, and New York, the strongest brands are signalling a shift: knitwear is no longer the supporting act; it is the wardrobe’s anchor. From Brunello Cucinelli’s artisanal precision to Ralph Lauren’s polished Americana, the direction is clear: luxury is becoming quieter, richer, and more i

Cashmere pills differently from Merino because its fibres are finer, shorter, and more delicate , creating a softer hand feel but a naturally higher tendency for surface fuzz and pilling, while Merino’s longer, springier fibres offer greater resilience and everyday durability. What pilling actually is — and why it matters Pilling is the formation of tiny fibre balls on the surface of knitwear. It occurs when loose fibre ends migrate outwards, tangle, and form small clusters.

Mohair and brushed wool/cashmere both sit firmly in the “luxury knit” category, yet they behave quite differently. Understanding their origins helps explain why. Mohair  comes from the Angora goat. The fibres are long, lustrous and naturally silky, giving mohair its signature halo and airy loft. Brushed wool/cashmere  is typically a blend of sheep’s wool and cashmere that has been mechanically brushed to raise the surface fibres, creating a fluffy, cloud‑like texture. Both ar

Baby cashmere sits at the very top of the luxury knitwear hierarchy, a fibre spoken of with the same reverence reserved for vicuña or the finest mulberry silk. Yet for many consumers, the term still feels mysterious, even slightly provocative. What exactly makes baby cashmere so special? Why does it command such a premium? And is it ethically acceptable to use a fibre sourced from young goats? A clear, honest exploration helps readers appreciate both the beauty and the comple

As the festive spirit of Chinese New Year draws to a close, CH Cashmere is pleased to announce that our knitwear operations are officially resuming. After a well‑deserved break for our craftsmen and technicians, the factory is now preparing to return to full momentum — refreshed, re‑energised, and ready to support your upcoming collections and developments. The post‑holiday period is always an important moment for our industry. It marks not only the reopening of workshops, bu

Cashmere has long been associated with quiet luxury, soft, feather‑light, and effortlessly elegant. Yet within the world of cashmere, not all fibres are created equal. The distinction between Grade A  and Grade B  cashmere is one of the most important quality markers, but also one of the least understood by consumers. Whether you’re a shopper deciding between two jumpers, or a business weighing up material choices for your next collection, understanding these grades is essent

Brushed‑yarn knitwear has a charm that few other textiles can match. The airy halo, the soft‑focus surface, the gentle warmth and loft, all of these qualities make brushed garments feel luxurious, cosy, and visually distinctive. Yet anyone developing brushed knitwear for the first time quickly discovers a less romantic truth: these pieces are notoriously difficult to measure, control, and reproduce with precision. Understanding why brushed yarn behaves this way is essential f

Running a small fashion brand often feels like a balancing act between creativity, quality, and cost. Knitwear, in particular, can be a surprisingly technical category, with prices influenced by everything from yarn composition to garment weight. Yet with the right approach, small brands can reduce their production costs without compromising on design or brand identity. This guide explores how to spend more intelligently when producing knitwear, especially when choosing betwe

The knitwear industry loves to talk about innovation, fibre science, and the pursuit of ever‑finer yarns. Yet when designers or small brands go searching for fine count Cashmere and Merino blends, particularly 10%Cashmere 90%Merino or 30%Cashmere 70%Merino in 48 nm or finer, they quickly discover a frustrating truth: most suppliers simply don’t stock them. This absence isn’t a coincidence, nor is it a sign of industry neglect. It’s the result of a complex mix of technical lim

Cashmere is often spoken about as if it were one single material — soft, luxurious, and universally the same. In reality, the quality of a cashmere sweater depends heavily on one technical detail that most shoppers never hear about: yarn count , expressed as nm . Understanding yarn count is one of the simplest ways to judge the quality, feel, performance, and price of a cashmere garment. Whether you’re a buyer, a retailer, or simply someone who wants to make informed choices,

Chinese New Year (CNY) is the single most significant holiday across China and much of East Asia, a moment when families reunite, cities empty, and factories fall silent. For the knitwear industry, it is not simply a festive break; it is a complete pause in production that can last several weeks. For brands working with Chinese manufacturers, understanding how this period affects timelines is essential. With the right preparation, you can avoid delays, protect your launch sch

Cotton is one of the world’s most familiar fibres, yet the distinctions between organic cotton , conventional cotton , and region‑specific cotton—such as Xinjiang cotton —are often misunderstood. For brands working in sustainable luxury, and for buyers who want clarity rather than slogans, it’s worth unpacking what “organic” truly means and how Xinjiang cotton fits into the wider textile landscape. What Does ‘Organic Cotton’ Actually Mean? Organic cotton is not simply “cotton

A New Year Reflection from CH Cashmere As we step into a fresh year, all of us at CH Cashmere  would like to extend our warmest wishes to you and your team. May 2026 bring creativity, clarity, and continued success to your collections. Before we look ahead, it’s worth pausing to reflect on the knitwear styles that truly resonated with customers in 2025 — the pieces that not only sold well, but were reordered repeatedly across markets. From a supplier’s perspective, repeat ord

Brushed cashmere and its close cousin, brushed‑finish “fur” knitwear has seen a remarkable rise in popularity in recent seasons. Designers and consumers alike are drawn to its cloud‑soft texture, gentle warmth, and beautifully elevated appearance. As this style of knit becomes more sought‑after, understanding how to care for it properly is essential. Brushed cashmere is luxurious, but it is also delicate; the very fibres that create its signature softness require thoughtful h

For decades, Stoll flat‑bed knitting machines have been a benchmark of precision, reliability, and German engineering in the global knitwear industry. From fully‑fashioned sweaters to intricate textures and technical structures, Stoll shaped how factories produced high‑quality knitwear and how designers imagined it. But as of late 2025, the Stoll flat‑bed machine line has officially been discontinued — marking the end of one of the most influential chapters in modern knitwear

Merino wool has long been celebrated as one of nature’s finest fibres, it is soft, breathable, renewable, and remarkably versatile. It sits at the heart of modern sustainable luxury, offering comfort without compromise. Yet over the past seasons, brands, retailers, and manufacturers have all felt the same pressure: ethical Merino wool is becoming noticeably more expensive . This shift is not a passing fluctuation. It reflects deeper changes in global supply, farming condition

As the new year unfolds and the winter air settles in with its familiar crispness, there is something undeniably comforting about reaching for a garment that promises both warmth and refinement. Cashmere, with its unparalleled softness and enduring elegance, remains the fabric of choice for those who appreciate quiet luxury. And as we step into 2026, there has never been a better time to rediscover the beauty, craftsmanship, and practicality of this remarkable fibre. In this

Cashmere has long been synonymous with quiet luxury, soft, warm, and effortlessly elegant. Yet in recent years, a particular category has captured the attention of designers, retailers, and consumers alike: lightweight cashmere . It offers all the refinement of traditional cashmere, but with a feather‑light feel that makes it wearable far beyond the depths of winter. In this guide, we explore what lightweight cashmere truly is, how it differs from standard cashmere, and why i

Static electricity has a reputation problem. For years, it has been blamed almost exclusively on synthetic fabrics, those polyester blouses that crackle in winter, or the fleece jumper that turns your hair into a science experiment. But the truth is far more nuanced. Natural fibres, from cotton to wool, can also generate static electricity under the right conditions. And understanding why can help us make better choices about clothing, comfort, and even sustainability. What E