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Quince has some of the best affordable cashmere sweaters we've tested.
Gabrielle Chase/Talia Ergas/Insider
Among the many types of sweaters you can wear on a chilly day, a high-quality cashmere sweater is the way to go. The best cashmere sweaters are not only soft and insulating, but also lightweight, breathable, and moisture-wicking. A cashmere sweater makes a great gift for anyone on your holiday shopping list, so if you're feeling stumped, we've narrowed down a range of styles from our favorite brands.
Our top overall pick is the Original Cashmere Sweater from Naadam. It first caught our attention years ago with how luxe it feels considering its cost and has incredibly maintained a price tag of under $100 ever since. For another affordable and trendy option, we also love Quince's Mongolian Cashmere Sweater, which is super soft and perfect for layering. I wear mine at least once a week, and it's remarkably high quality for its price tag.
Our top picks of the best cashmere sweaters
Best overall: Naadam The Original Cashmere Sweater - See at Naadam The brand's first claim to fame, this luxury-grade crewneck is knit with the finest, sustainably sourced cashmere.
Best affordable: Quince Mongolian Cashmere Fisherman Crewneck Sweater - See at Quince This chunky cashmere sweater is the best price point you'll find on a thick nautical-inspired type knit.
Best recycled: Patagonia Recycled Cashmere Turtleneck - See at Patagonia From one of our favorite B-corp certified companies, this turtleneck is made with repurposed cashmere spun into a cozy yarn.
Best luxury: Eileen Fisher Cashmere Silk Bliss Crew Neck Top - See at Eileen Fisher The New York based designer's timeless silhouettes get a silken treatment resulting in a remarkably soft cashmere blend.
Best minimalist: Everlane The Cashmere Boxy Crew Neck - See at Everlane This casual, slightly cropped fit pairs well with anything in your fall wardrobe and is knit with soft recycled cashmere.
Best unique: Leret Leret Squeeze Me - See at Leret Leret Made in collaboration with British artist Angelica Hicks, this darling design exemplifies the illustrator's clever visual puns.
Best color selection: J. Crew Cashmere Classic-Fit Crewneck Sweater - See at J. Crew J.Crew's best selling cashmere crewneck is perfect for collecting in any of its 18 vibrant colorways.
Best size inclusive: Lands' End Plus Size Cashmere Long Sleeve Polo - See at Lands' End Lands' End offers extended sizes in their cozy cashmere knits, such as with this striped polo style.
Best trendy: Reformation Kameron Cashmere Sweater - See at Reformation A go-to for Gen Z favorite's 90/10 Cashmere collection includes this chic top with a sweet ribbon detail.
Best on Amazon: Cashmere Boutique 100% Pure Cashmere Round Neck Cardigan Sweater - See at Amazon This pure cashmere cardigan comes at the convenience of Amazon's speedy delivery for a thoughtful gift on a time crunch.
Best for transparency: Gobi Silk Cashmere Boat Neck - See at Gobi Gobi offers extensive resources about their sourcing from the Banayankhongor Province, like with this stylish sweater made following traditional Mongolian cashmere practices.
Best heritage: N. Peal The Peony Lim Scallop Edge Top - See at N. Peal The storied London brand collaborated on this vintage-inspired cashmere top with style blogger Peony Lim, tying together their long history of luxury cashmere with modern fashion.
Best alpaca wool: Peruvian Connection Basket Motif Pullover - See at Peruvian Connection Made in Peru with an Alpaca wool blend, this turtleneck is a warm alternative to cashmere that carries the tradition of the Andes into a gorgeous, hypoallergenic heritage piece.
Best overall: Naadam
Naadam/Facebook
Naadam produces hand-combed cashmere produced in facilities powered by 100% clean energy. Their supply chain is operated by workers sponsored by the brand's donations to The Gobi Revival Fund NGO.
In addition to pure cashmere, the brand offers the best cashmere sweaters in blended knits like Merino wool cashmere, modal cashmere, recycled cashmere, and other super soft combinations. Their signature is the Original Cashmere Sweater, which has remained under $100 from as far back as 2018 and still maintains its original premium quality. They carry a wide variety of other styles from loungewear to varsity cardigans, in a size range of XXS to XXL.
Best affordable: Quince
Gabrielle Chase; Insider
Quince is one of our absolute favorite direct-to-consumer brands for quality basics at accessible prices. They source items directly from makers to keep prices low and prioritize using eco-friendly materials and dyes. Their original claim to fame is a $50 sweater made from 100% Grade A Mongolian Cashmere. This lightweight crewneck is soft on the skin and can be layered over a collared button down for a preppy look, or otherwise worn as a cozy pajama top.
Quince's size availability for their best cashmere sweaters ranges from XS-XL. Quince also has maternity sizing and cozy knit accessories to pair with their Mongolian or elevated Super Luxe Baby Cashmere sweaters.
Patagonia is a beloved B-corp retail company most people recognize for signature fleeces, but their exemplary sustainability standards also extend to their recycled cashmere collection. Each piece consists of 95% cashmere scraps collected from European garment factories, which is then woven with 5% virgin wool for added strength.
The four styles of their small but mighty collection of cashmere sweaters (crewneck, turtleneck, and two cardigans) are available in sizes XS-XL.
Best luxury: Eileen Fisher
Eileen Fisher
Eileen Fisher's designs are simple, sophisticated, and sustainable from the beginning of their conception to wherever they land in your wardrobe. Their polished women's cashmere sweater collection consists of pure cashmere, cashmere silk blend, or recycled cashmere knits.
The 100% Italian cashmere is a very fine, minimally treated lightweight fabric that feels luxurious to the touch and won't pill over time. The Cashmere Silk Bliss sweaters are knit with silk cashmere blend yarn, and the Lofty Recycled Cashmere is spun using scraps from the cutting room floors of Eileen Fisher's production facilities to prevent waste. Their sizes range from XXS to 3XL.
Best minimalist: Everlane
Everlane
Everlane is one of our favorite places to buy all kinds of high-quality basics. Their cashmere sweater offerings include subtle updates on traditional styles with a great price tag. Everlane's Grade-A Mongolian cashmere runs from $110 to $230 in sizes XXS to XL. The most popular and versatile style of their top women's cashmere sweaters, The Cashmere Crew, is one of the cheapest and best options, and former senior reporter Mara Leighton calls it the backbone of her fall and winter wardrobe.
If you're looking to splurge on a truly unique piece, Leret Leret has whimsical designs woven into expertly constructed investment pieces.The luxury shop specializes exclusively in cashmere and offers a slew of memorable designs while also offering simpler patterns, like stripes or checkers. Each $475-$575 sweater is a limited-edition piece, so be sure to grab your favorite while you can. The unisex sweaters are available in sizes XXS to XXL.
Best color selection: J. Crew
J. Crew
J.Crew is your one-stop shop for the best cashmere sweaters that go beyond your average camel-colored pullovers. Yes, you can take your pick of classic colors at J.Crew's Cashmere Shop, but if it's a bright or unique color you're after, you're still in the right place.
J.Crew is the first US member of the Aid by Trade Foundation, which helps promote sustainable agricultural development — including sustainable cashmere production — and is certified under the AbTF's The Good Cashmere Standard. We also love the brand's inclusive size range, with sweaters sizing up to a 3XL (size 24).
Best size inclusive: Lands' End
Lands' End
If you're more interested in classic, modest styles of women's cashmere sweaters, Lands' End is the place to expand your selection. Their 2 ply cashmere is on the more expensive side, but the brand hosts sales often. Another pro: Lands' End offers a larger size range than many other cashmere sweater brands on the market.
Best trendy: Reformation
Reformation
Reformation offers a range of trend-forward silhouettes, despite the brand's sizing leaving something to be desired. Despite this, the youthful brand puts sustainability at the forefront by offsetting carbon emissions and recycling or donating textile scraps. Their 90/10 Cashmere line offers fashion-forward pieces like cropped sweaters, as well as timeless basics like turtlenecks and cardigans, made from 90% post-industrial recycled cashmere.
Best on Amazon: Cashmere Boutique
Amazon
Cashmere Boutique brings the luxury of 100% cashmere to the convenience of Amazon with their array of sweaters and accessories. Be it cashmere slippers, socks, scarves or sweaters – it's all in one place. Their imported cashmere sweaters make a great last minute gift if you're in need of a soft sentiment on a Prime delivery schedule. Some styles range from a one-size-fits-all scale to a standard S-XL.
Best for transparency: Gobi
Gobi
For sound mind on where the best cashmere sweater actually comes from, Gobi Cashmere is a 100% Mongolian company that works with local herders who hand-comb the cashmere fibers, which creates an even softer handfeel. Without third-party interference, Gobi is able to price their signature organic cashmere sweater and hat set as low as $89. They also have pricier options like their silk cashmere blends and heavier knits, in sizes ranging from S to 2XL.
Best heritage: N. Peal
N. Peal
The first N.Peal store opened in 1936 at London's original department store, the Burlington Arcade. The brand's luxury reputation was secured when seen on Hollywood icons like Marilyn Monroe and Ava Gardner. Currently, you can shop its "Bond Woman" collection designed in collaboration with the 007 franchise.
Its broader sweater selection has XS-L classic jumpers, turtlenecks, polos in organic 100% Mongolian cashmere with some silhouettes available in reversible and superfine cashmere versions. N.Peal's peak standards for production are fulfilled by their own facilities that harvest, dehair, dye, spin, and knit the best cashmere sweaters that have persisted throughout the label's history.
Best alpaca wool: Peruvian Connection
Peruvian Connection
Though alpaca wool sweaters are made of a totally different material than the cashmere harvested from the undercoat of goats, they're worth mentioning on this list considering both are naturally regenerative resources. Alpaca wool may also serve as a cozy alternative to those with cashmere allergies.
Peruvian Connection follows the protocol of "The Technical Norms for Shearing and Handling Alpaca Fiber Fleece" approved by the Peruvian Ministry of Production that enforces ethical treatment of the animals. Their warm, soft sweaters come in your standard solid knit pullovers in sizes XS-XL, with more options in colorful, traditional Peruvian patterns that pay tribute to the origin of the alpaca wool sweater.
Cashmere Sweater FAQs
What is cashmere?
Cashmere is a thin, soft, and finely textured knit fabric made from the fibers combed from the undercoat of cashmere goats. It gets its name from the Kashmir region of northern India and is distinct from the fibers harvested from sheep that make wool. Even though they're related materials, cashmere is three times more insulating than wool. It's also naturally more breathable.
Why is cashmere so expensive?
Because of its scarcity, labor-intensive process, production standards, comfort, and long-term durability, a quality cashmere sweater is considered an investment piece.
Expensive cashmere indicates the material's laborious combing and production process. It takes approximately 4-5 fully grown goats to make just one 100% cashmere sweater. Cashmere is also only collected as little as once a year, depending on the area.
In the US cashmere must also meet certain criteria, including:
The average diameter of the fiber cannot exceed 19 micrometers.
The product cannot contain more than 3% by weight of cashmere fibers with average diameters that exceed 30 micrometers.
As a naturally regenerative resource, 100% cashmere is more eco-friendly than say, polyester. Still, the available quantity is reliant on the well-being of goat herds and their caretakers. Paying more for a cashmere sweater also means investing in the quality of life for those who produce it.
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