Anti-pilling Properties Of Cashmere Sweaters Depend 70% On Pre-shipment Processes
The Anti-Pilling Performance of Cashmere Sweaters Is 70% Determined Before Shipment
As a supplier with many years of experience in the cashmere industry, we are often asked by overseas customers: "Why do some cashmere sweaters pill after only a few wears, while others remain smooth for years?"
The answer may surprise you: more than 70% of a cashmere sweater's resistance to pilling is determined before it even leaves the factory. Today, I would like to share the lesser-known "anti-pilling" processes from a producer's perspective.
Raw Material Selection Is the First Critical Step
Many people believe that as long as high-quality cashmere is used, anti-pilling garments are guaranteed. However, this is not entirely true. When sourcing raw cashmere, we pay close attention to fiber length and fineness. Long fibers (36–40 mm and above) produce yarn with less surface fuzz and stronger cohesion between fibers, making it naturally less prone to pilling. Short fibers, although less expensive, are more likely to slip out from the yarn ends and form small pills.
We insist on using high-quality cashmere from the Alashan region of Inner Mongolia, where the fibers are long and uniformly fine, laying a solid foundation for strong anti-pilling performance.
The Spinning Process Determines 70% of the Anti-Pilling Performance
This is the most critical stage. We use a worsted spinning process, which involves multiple combing and drawing steps to remove short fibers and retain long fibers arranged in an orderly structure. The principle is similar to hair care-frizzy hair tangles easily, while smooth hair does not.
Even more crucial is the twisting process. We precisely calculate the twist level according to different yarn counts. Proper twisting allows the fibers to bind tightly together, reducing the likelihood of fibers slipping out during friction. If the twist is too low, the yarn becomes loose and pills easily; if it is too high, the yarn feels stiff and loses the natural softness of cashmere. Achieving the right balance requires years of experience.
Finishing: Adding a "Protective Layer" to Cashmere
After the yarn is knitted into garments, three additional key processes follow.
The first is shearing, which uses specialized equipment to remove loose fibers from the fabric surface, thereby reducing the number of exposed fiber ends that could become entangled.
Next is the softening stage, but this does not simply involve adding softener. We apply a specialized anti-pilling finishing agent that forms a light protective film on the fiber surface. This reduces friction while preserving the natural hand feel of cashmere.
Finally, steam finishing uses high-temperature steam to set the fiber structure, making the garment less prone to deformation and fiber movement during wear.
Why Can Pilling Still Occur After the Garment Leaves the Factory?
At this point, I must be candid: no cashmere sweater is completely immune to pilling. Even with the best processes in place, slight pilling may still occur if the garment experiences frequent friction against rough surfaces, such as backpack straps or belt buckles. However, this type of pilling is usually minor and temporary. The loose fibers typically shed naturally after a few wears and do not develop into persistent, heavy fuzzing.
