Cashmere scarf "Nuo" (नुओ) – 100% cashmere, handwoven

Nuo — a scarf for everyone who likes a sporty look.

It has two faces. On one side a light, cream-flecked grey with regular light blue stripes. On the other a strong red, crossed by the same blue stripes. At the edge a dark grey band that holds the two together. Depending on how you wear it, you have an understated or a striking scarf.

The stripes are neither printed nor sewn on — they are created in the weave, by changing the yarn colour from row to row. That is why they are there on both sides, and why they have these slightly uneven edges that no print could produce. In raking light the fabric itself shows a fine diagonal ridge.

Eight threads twisted together, 8 gauge, 200 grams on 68 × 196 cm (27 × 77 in), 15.3 microns fine — a winter scarf that stays soft despite this density. The fringes are unknotted; the fibres simply run out at the end.

21 to 24 days of work on the hand loom.

Material

• 100% cashmere in grade A, tested and certified by the Nepal Pashmina Industries Association (NPIA)
• Undercoat of the Chyangra goat from the high pastures of Manang and Upper Mustang
• Fibre fineness 15.3 micron; individual items 14.8 micron – the value is given in the item text
• Handwoven in Nepal

More about the making and the fibre: Cashmere wool

The key figures in the item text

Every item text gives four values. This is how to read them:

Ply – thread count. How many single threads are twisted into one yarn. Our scarves consist of eight or twelve threads – hence their weight of 200 to 250 grams and their warmth.

Gauge – thread density. The higher the number, the denser the weave. Our scarves are woven at 8 or 12 gauge: with eight twisted threads, 8 gauge is the usual measure for a winter scarf; 12 gauge produces an even denser weave.

Micron – fibre fineness. The diameter of the individual fibre in thousandths of a millimetre. A human hair measures 50 to 100 micron depending on type; our cashmere measures 15.3 micron, the finest 14.8. The finer the fibre, the softer the fabric falls and the more threads the same area needs.

Weight. The weight of the finished piece in grams. The graphic further down shows what share of a Chyangra goat's annual wool it corresponds to.

Handcraft

Every piece is made entirely by hand – the weaving as well as the fringes, pattern and embroidery. The weaving time is given in the item text: depending on the make, 17 to 28 days at the hand loom.

Undyed pieces

Some items carry the colour in which the wool comes from the animal – cream white, sand, grey-brown. They are marked as undyed in the item text; their slight mottling is the natural mixture of light and dark fibres.

The Chyangra goat

A Nepalese Chyangra goat yields only around 150 to 200 grams of precious raw pashmina per year. After careful cleaning and the removal of the coarser hairs, only a small part of it remains as usable, exceptionally fine fibre.

Natural product

As this is a purely natural product, slight differences in colour and size may occur. The incidence of light and the type of light source can also slightly influence how the colour appears.

Care

The fineness of the cashmere fibre gives this piece its soft hand, its lightness and its drape. With the right care, these properties are preserved for many years.

✓ Air it regularly rather than washing it often

Cashmere is often called “self-cleaning”. That is not quite right – the fibre does not clean itself. But it binds odours inside the fibre and releases them again when aired, and odour-causing bacteria find poor conditions on its dry surface. That is why a cashmere scarf rarely needs washing: aired overnight, it is fresh again the next morning. Whatever has soaked into the fibre – red wine, oil, sweat – has to be washed out.

✓ Gentle hand washing recommended

For cleaning, we recommend gentle hand washing in cold to lukewarm water (max. 30 °C). Use only a high-quality wool or cashmere detergent or a pH-neutral shampoo.

✓ Machine washing only on a special programme

If your care label permits, the piece can be washed on the wool programme at a maximum of 30 °C. Use a laundry bag and a special wool detergent, and select the lowest spin speed.

✓ Do not rub, wring or stretch

The fine cashmere fibres should only be moved gently during washing. Vigorous rubbing, twisting or pulling can impair the fabric and the softness of the fibres.

✓ Remove moisture gently

After washing, press the piece out carefully without wringing it. Then roll it in a clean towel to absorb excess moisture.

✓ Dry flat

Ease the piece back into its original shape on a flat surface and let it dry lying flat. Do not hang it up, as the weight of the moisture can distort the fine fabric. Do not tumble dry.

✓ Protect from heat and direct sunlight

Direct sunlight, radiators or other strong sources of heat can dry out the delicate cashmere fibres and impair the brilliance of the colours.

Storage

✓ Store with care

Always store the piece clean and completely dry. For longer storage, breathable fabric bags are advisable, along with natural moth protection, for example cedar wood or lavender sachets.

✓ Cashmere pilling is natural

With high-quality cashmere products, small bobbles (pilling) can occasionally form, especially in the first weeks of wear. This is a natural process and not a defect in quality. The bobbles can be removed carefully by hand or with a special cashmere comb.

✓ Professional cleaning if needed

For heavier soiling, professional cleaning by a cleaner experienced in handling high-quality cashmere products is advisable. Always observe the care instructions on the label.