BATTLE OF THE CASHMERE SWEATERS: Is Fast-fashion Up To The Challenge?

[@docevika6202]

I don’t know if you mentioned it, but are those pieces 100% cashmere? Or are they cashmere blending? They all look like blending to me…

[@MarianaZelenjuk]

They're all 100% cashmere

[@KimberlyPerrotis]

I’m glad you mentioned fully-fashioned (knitted, not cut and sewn) seams, this is one of the most important indicators of quality that few these days seem to know about, but my generation does (age 64). Cut and sewn seams in knits very quickly develop holes which can’t always be repaired, even if one can find an exact yarn match, which is very difficult.

[@ldavies3280]

I remember my mum going on about fully fashioned knitwear, and didn’t know what she meant till now.

[@carlsenlifeafter60carlsen11]

I love these videos because you’re teaching me what to look for and what is better. I appreciate that. I did buy a trenchcoat before. I saw your trenchcoat video and I picked the right one. I’m so glad.😊

[@toniweston4330]

Every word out of her mouth is informative and worth listening to.

[@MarianaZelenjuk]

I’m going to print this comment and give it to my husband, Toni 😂

[@mafalda8222]

😂❤​@@MarianaZelenjuk

[@MALOsstuff]

I can only say: I've had my cos cashmere sweaters for 7 years now and they still look incredible. I've used a fabric shaver like the one from steamer maybe once on each sweater and only wash them cold in the wool setting, but usually just hang them outside for half a day if they're not dirty. I love them so much and they're really forever pieces!

[@Ingrid0410]

Macys has superb cashmere sweaters! “Charter Club“ is their brand. I have all the colors and I love them! For anyone in the US. They are about 130 us dollars but always on sale! Love Macys

[@tatyanapavlovskaya1974]

After reselling used cashmere for 23 years I’ve learned the meaning of “ fully fashioned”. Thank you!!!😊

[@Enig_Mata]

As someone who hand-knits sweaters, this video was very helpful. I like the design elements you pointed out - I can add these to my knits. The COS piece looks like a good challenge to recreate.

[@LynnM-sn4xr]

I would love your expert opinion on Lilysilk and Banana Republic cashmere

[@lauramarczyk7644]

Yes, that would be great! Would love to know Mariana's opnion on silk too

[@Talletc]

She said that the BR brand family isn’t available where she lives

[@doylejoy]

What about Zara cashmere?

[@megand175]

Yes, same, especially Lily Silk which for me is definitely a nicer feel than Uniqlo

[@linabelmonte5154]

Lilysilk is made out of viscose and polyester. Not worth it.

[@yvetteschaerer]

Very informative. I prefer fitted but didn’t think of sizing it down. Now I know. Thanks

[@krm6029]

Uniqlo is not my favorite for cashmere, but I love how fine and comfortable their Marino wool is

[@MarianaZelenjuk]

Their 3D knit is also one of my favorites!

[@Ingrid0410]

Uniqlo merino wool is my fav too ( I like the mens merino) but here in California I rarely need a sweater! I buy cashmere sweaters at Macys “charter club” brand they are gorgeous have about 10 of them which I need to keep in sweater bags so moths dont eat them. Wear sweaters about 2-3 months here as its warm most of the year. Thx for the super video Mariana!

[@solangelauthier2381]

Merino not marino !

[@solangelauthier2381]

If you have no money, then forget about cashmere, buy something else. Uniqlo (and the like) cashmere is a poor thing that fools nobody.

[@solangelauthier2381]

@@krm6029 Uniqlo is low class and lousy quality.

[@IrinaAntonova]

I used to have a Cos sweater bought in a second-hand market - and it was in a perfect shape, and was my go-to sweater for years. It didn’t lose shape and got very little of peeling up until it’s end days when it got eaten by moth.

[@luluandmeow]

I spent around £250 on a Massimo Dutti suede jacket, but not on a plain jumper. I prefer merino to be honest, easy to wash and so much cheaper. I have cashmere too but I find it a hassle to handwash and when it accidentally goes in with the rest of the laundry it's ruined. Pilling: be careful with the electric de-piller, lay the item on a big flat surface and be extremely careful with cuffs, necklines, gloves, around buttons, etc. as you can easily make holes. I find it laborious to de-pill, it can take almost an hour if you have a big cardigan, I just wear a Uniqlo thermal long-sleeve top under one or layers of merino knitwear and it's just as warm for a fraction of the price and it can all go in the normal wash.

[@vickimcwhirter6694]

If you have a gentle cycle on your washing machine you can use that for cashmere. I haven’t washed a cashmere jumper by hand for years I just use the gentle cycle and a special gentle detergent. You are right On a normal wash cycle it will ruin the item. 😊

[@SlackSlackSlackSlack]

Interesting. I tend to agree with you. Can you recommend merinos jumpers? Always looking for the besy one 😊

[@victoriamatchett5051]

Bobbling is normal for cashmere, just get the cashmere comb or de-bobbling machine and your cashmere will always look great 👍🏻 I also try to wash my cashmere as less as possible by wearing undergarments such as t-shirts, but if I do wash it I do it in the washing machine inside the pillow case on the wool setting with a shampoo rather than a laundry detergent.

[@Citrus1992m]

Excellent video with great information ❤ Personally, I do not like Mango-everything I ever bought from there looked cheap (wool, silk, cashmere) and I immediately got rid of it or it didn’t make it past one wear. Perhaps I just had bad luck, but I would much prefer cos, uniqlo, and massimo dutti when it comes to knits, especially cashmere.

[@SlackSlackSlackSlack]

Great video. Any chance you do the same on Merinos jumper?

[@jenniferb-4319]

How about Quince! I am bombarded with their PR and and wondering if it is real or manufactured. I also agree that every word out of your mouth is informative and worth listening to. You are so eloquent and articulate -almost poetic at times.

[@mamaahu]

She said she can't get Quince in Europe so others need to comment because she cannot.

[@TheMocao]

I own about 3 cashmere sweaters. I considered them an investment for future wear, so due to a bad experience with low quality previous purchases - I bought more expensive sweaters that seem better quality. That being said, I live in Southern California, so I don’t wear them every “winter”. I actually get more use out of my cotton sweaters. And, I’m middle aged, so my skin has become more sensitive and easily overheats with man made blends. My best cashmere purchase, however, was a $40 vintage 1950s cashmere swing coat that I found in a vintage shop during a vacation about 10 years ago.

[@MarianaZelenjuk]

Well, that swing coat sounds diviiiine 🤩

[@Trenchant468]

I just bought 4 vintage thrift store cashmere sweaters end of last summer, half off, so about $10 each. Made in Italy (2), Scotland (1), and China for Bloomingdale’s(1). The only one I regret is the Bloomingdale’s one: thin neckline rippling a bit, trendy.

[@MultiMichellerose]

There is definitely different qualities of cashmere. I use to work in the design rooms of Burberry and I would say they have the best cashmere and worth every penny and super soft.

[@solangelauthier2381]

Fast fashion cashmere is so lousy it should not even be called cashmere. Indeed Burberry (and Begg & Co etc) are real good cashmere. Quality has a price, when will women understand that ?

[@Emilydzinmb]

Some of the features you identify as indicators of quality are actually just design choices. Examples are the knit pattern around the shoulder seam and the thickness of the yarn. Sometimes you want a sweater without much detailing and sometimes you want a thinner yarn for less bulk and for higher temperatures. Other features of the construction are spot on.

[@darkacademican]

Agreed. Also, I personally exclusively go for an oversize, slouchy fit (think Jenni Kayne) or a cropped but still slouchy fit. It's subjective and a matter of preference -- not sure why the fit is considered "limiting."

[@Dwightinho56]

Thank you for this. I have looked at 3 of them for a while but couldn’t decide. Now I can.

[@maryodwyer9827]

May I take this opportunity to thank you for the lovely videos, I have learned so much.Also Happy Birthday for October 15th same day as my husband. God Bless and safe delivery.

[@MarianaZelenjuk]

Maryyyy! Thank you for remembering ☺️

[@celiathirlwall3329]

Hi Mariana! Thank you for this timely video as I'm on the hunt for a cashmere sweater. Thanks for your great review!! Have a fabulous week!! xx

[@kyrakytana]

I agree with you on the H&M cashmere, especially the fineknit ones. They feel quite thin and flimsy. The thicker options are much better though, they pill less and feel better made. You still need to size down, though. To me COS has always been the best option, followed by Arket. They are a bit pricier and sizing down is still necessary if you want it fitted, but they feel so cozy and wash remarkably well.

[@maripatrick4250]

I love cos cashmere jumpers, they are so thick, soft and luxurious, I jave just bought a second cashmere jumper in beautiful charcoal. Would highly recommend them ❤.

[@DrMalcolm97]

Best place to look for 2nd hand aside from ebay?

[@wangyouhua2582]

Can you do a video on puffer jackets? Really struggling to find a decent one in terms of quality and style… The Uniqlo one has the pilling issue, very annoying…

[@helindove2237]

Thank you Mariana for this very informative video! Sometimes it is difficult to know what material second hand pieces are made of once the label has been cut out. These tips will help me to find the quality pieces.

[@patriciaottone4083]

Thank you sooo much for this one! It is a trial sometimes to figure out the best bang for your buck! I have also had luck with Marks & Spencer cashmere 😉. You are absolutely glowing btw 💐

[@llavie4583]

My personal favorite are uniqlo ,massimo and cos , apart from that topic whats your highlighter 😆

[@annettetigoulet3230]

Thank you for this beautiful and interesting review. I love cashmere and I've had several pieces for years. They are mainly from Bompard which is an expensive brand but can also be found cheaper on sale. I also tried Uniklo and From Future which seem O.K. Have a nice day.

[@BkkParichat]

Great detailed explanations!

[@チヌブダイ]

I bought the Uniqlo one several years ago. I don't know how, but it started piling after wearing 1 season...I decided not to buy from uniqlo anymore because there were too many pilings. Apparently it has been improved since then. My Cos and Arket ones are in the perfect conditions after few years.

[@HB-xw6im]

The BEST is from a brand called “Pure Collection” they make a specific type of pieces that make you feel in the clouds ❤

[@ellen9354]

I do not agree with your assessment of the Massimo Dutti sweater. The seams are very poorly stitched and holes come quickly. They also pill like crazy.

[@SmartCreativeWomen]

I own a several sweaters (because of the price point) from Quince and even though they are nice, I have had A LOT of pulling. I do wear them a lot being in New England our sweater season is very long and I really can't wear wool, so price matters, but I am ready to move on from them and wish I had this video I would have invested in COS And had less options. I do buy vintage, and it has been good, I end up mending holes though, haha.

[@saraw6710]

I only knit natural yarns. Merino, silk alpaca etc. and the advantage is that they hardly need washing (by hand) altho I do wrap them in plastic bags in case of moths!! So soft so warm and wick proof when skiing

[@anniwilkko4132]

Any good patterns?

[@solangelauthier2381]

@@saraw6710 Ever heard of moth balls ?

[@anniwilkko4132]

Thank you for the video! I'm new to the channel. I would love to see similar video of wool coats.

[@Annet1608]

I bought a couple of cheaper sweaters from H&M and Zara but they just do not last very long. Now i only buy Extreme Cashmere; a lot more expensive but very easy to machine wash and they look fantastic year after year.

[@yingkouzen]

Love your review on cashmere ❤and thanks for reviewing them

[@MaryAnn-y2u]

Thank you for this informative and helpful video on selecting a good quality cashmere sweater. When you need to launder cashmere do you hand wash or dry clean the items?

[@MarianaZelenjuk]

I always hand wash, MaryAnn! Gentle detergent and let it dry horizontally 😉

[@cristinadelavilla7989]

I don´t know where you are located but the mango cashmere sweater is 100 eur here in the EU. Even in Scandinavia where the prices are higher, it´s not more than 120 eur

[@mikaph3051]

I need this for cotton button up shirts.

[@lli_loue]

COS cashmere is great, super plush. It’s a little bit pricey, but it’s so worth it. However, I find that it really does pill a lot, I use a pilling machine on it once a month.

[@casalist5426]

I wonder if I am going to pay over 200 USD for fast fashion, shouldn’t I try Falconeri, Max Mara or any other mid range brand?

[@Nickysmom]

I have cashmere pieces from TSE that have not pilled in 20 years

[@LynnM-sn4xr]

Excellent and informational video. Thank you. Your videos always brighten my day

[@tatianasokolova9468]

Cashmere - pretty worm material, so I would consider options that can be unbutton or V- neck or thinner fabric * I definitely would get a sweater in half size or even size up in case of shrinking after wash

[@xphienie]

This was great! Very informative!

[@gcoolie5272]

I love my COS cashmere cardigan.

[@devleenadutta]

hi which nailpaint are you wearing ?

[@KimberlyPerrotis]

You’re right, neither cashmere nor wool should wrinkle that easily. One of the great characteristic properties of these fibers is their resilience, or springiness, which resists wrinkles and makes any fall out in a few hours, or with a quick steaming. Sharp creases like that are a bad sign. I think it’s hard to beat the price and quality of Quince cashmere sweaters, which start at $50 US. They only ship to the US, though, and the cashmere is on the lightweight side, which might not suit everyone. I love it because my climate has mild winters and I tend to overheat easily. Quince cashmere sweaters (and joggers and skirts) can also be bought in matching colors to make sets. I practically live in these in winter, over a silk undershirt.

[@solangelauthier2381]

A cashmere sweater at 50 USD ? Ah ah ah ! Naïve..

[@plxfw]

Not. Cashmere related, but I’d love to know your lipstick detail, looks very nice and autumnal

[@ana-pi6ut]

I bought a beautiful cashmere sweater from Talbots and was shocked when I wanted to wear it again It was full of holes. The holes were everywhere. I don't know what happened. I washed it before I put it away for the season.

[@reneeamyot4261]

Very instructive! Thank you

[@KimberlyPerrotis]

It’s not woven fabric. I know what you mean, but these are knitted, not woven, fabrics.🙂

[@PiperSevern]

I love Uniqlo cashmeres.I find the COS too busy.I like fully fashioned but don't like the ribbing detail.Costco when they have them closer to Xmas also have amazing 2-ply Italian made cashmeres.

[@michmash7888]

I haven’t seen cashmere at Costco in years (but that could be my store or my poor timing)…but the ones I have from there have held up great and are among my favorite pieces of clothing.

[@leigh938]

@@michmash7888costco Canada had 4 colours of cashmere the last two years.

[@Annaspanner]

Black cashmere and solid colours pill much more than grey or beige marle, I don’t know why tho.

[@А.В-ю6л]

1. COS 2. Massimo 3. H&M 4. Uniqlo Just my opinion 😊

[@sarahlou5777]

what about marks & spencers?

[@lizdavies264]

I’ve got several Uniqlo cashmere, they do not itch

[@helentsokana]

I love COS cashmere x

[@joangravelle8455]

Informative video, thank you.

[@KIG024]

The quince cashmere is cheap in price, fabric and construction. Uniqlo is much better quality in every way.

[@MarianaZelenjuk]

Thank you for the review! Especially now that I see they’re on sale for $50, which seems utterly impossible for good cashmere

[@KimberlyPerrotis]

@@MarianaZelenjuk I love my Quince cashmere. They sell that one particular cashmere sweater for $50 as a “loss leader”, which means that, although they lose money on that particular item, it helps bring in new customers. It certainly worked on me, with their perfect silk skirts, another loss leader, at the incredibly low price of $60. I’m now a regular Quince shopper and have been for a decade or so.🙂

[@reginag7911]

I find quince amazing quality for the price. Latest purchase Mongolian cashmere hoodie and pants. Pure luxury!

[@alexl92]

Don’t forget Nordstrom brand, Everlane and Quince.

[@mariyavesna2074]

Sorry for off top but I was always disappointed by Mango, everything I have got from them didn’t least more than a month. But never had their cashmere though

[@lulunana4055]

Exactly

[@LesiavanderWoman]

1) cashmere must bobble in the beginning. Its fine to shave off 2) my best sweater is from THE OTHER STORIES. It is another level. Uniqlo is a good brand but not for cashmere unfortunately

[@workinprogress3609]

I wish you would have reviewed Quince, also. Anyone ever bought from them?

[@mamaahu]

Quince doesn't sell to Europe so she can't comment. But others who live in the U.S. and Canada can.

[@lynnbell2499]

uniqlo cashmere is the least soft, the least comfortable of any cashmere I have worn. I have serious doubts about whether it’s 100% cashmere or not.

[@karolinamedone3504]

Uniqlo cashmere jumper in Japan costs 60 EUR ;)

[@SmartCreativeWomen]

Uniqulo colors all feel different, if you get a chance to feel all the colors, do it. The dyes make a difference.

[@deejohnson5987]

Are these jumpers 100 percent cashmere? The The itchiness of the H&M suggests that it contains wool

[@MarianaZelenjuk]

They’re all sold as 100% cashmere, Dee. But I’d much rather search for a high-quality merino wool (or even a cashmere blend) than settle for inferior, itchy cashmere.

[@deejohnson5987]

@ I knit and there’s lots of yarn that’s described as cashmere but it’s content is only about 5 or 10 percent. In the UK, we have M&S that usually has cashmere knitwear that is reasonably priced and soft, but not exactly stylish, but investment pieces should follow fashion anyway.

[@emmauxayor]

What size is the uniqlo’s? 3:50

[@sportinisvezlys]

What about M&S cashmere?

[@aiai-j7i]

I absolutely love your makeup and nail polish look in this video! Would you consider a tutorial with products used mentioned?

[@Ingrid0410]

The funny thing is Mariana when people say “ it will last a lifetime “ so spend more , no it doesn't . I ruined so many expensive pieces by babies throwing up on silk blouses to sitting on cigarettes which ruined my fav expensive leather jacket. Just watch how many nice pieces yr baby ruins, then yl be doing another video for us

[@lorielizabethwade7505]

Are there good brands that product a petite size? I have such a difficult time finding clothing for my height.

[@FourJaysFour]

Have you checked Talbots or JCrew?

[@heenarangwani2175]

Thank you!!

[@estellebar2273]

So... COS and M. Dutti are as expensive as Eric BOMPARD's first price jumpers, THE cashmere specialist. So fast-fashion not always the best option ;-)

[@MarianaZelenjuk]

Hi Estelle! In this case I think it’s a matter of ply/density. The entry items from Bompard are a 2-ply fine cashmere, whereas the more expensive ones I’ve shown are a bit more substantial. However, I believe in buying the best you can afford, so if that means you can shell out an extra 100/150 on a 6-ply Bompard, I’d say go for it!

[@theresaroeder6831]

How do you store cashmere sweaters?

if you wont wear for a long time, you should take in a freezer bag or in something where the bugs cant reach easily

[@olena_goldmanns]

Is it 100% cashmere or blends?

[@MarianaZelenjuk]

Hi Olena! They all claim to be 100% cashmere

[@carole3680]

Do all of these companies ethically source, I.e, labor compensation, age of employees, conditions where working. These are the first questions 😅to answer when recommending a product at deeply discounted cost.

[@johnnamadsen1543]

Uniqlo is my favorit, but lillisilk mulberry casmir are my favorit

[@johnnamadsen1543]

Casmir fra lilly silk are høj kvamitet

[@coleent8167]

Aritzia cashmere is terrible. Two sweaters unraveled at the cuff for me. Almost 300 a pop too. Terrible

[@Katie-vy5rd]

If anybody out there has run across a deep v-neck cashmere sweater that's a good quality and good style could you please please let me know thank you!😊

[@theodorajuskiw5283]

Did anyone know that Cashmere is not animal friendly. The goats suffer immensely. Please read up on it. 😢

[@NatalieM50]

Based on your comment, I did just do some reading and it’s very sad. I had no idea! Unfortunately I have some cashmere but I won’t be buying more!

[@leeatomassoni3901]

👏👏👏

[@iris7911]

❤

[@daskapital3532]

Cashemere is very fragile, no matter of price and co. It is short therm luxury

[@bridgiesue7]

I'm considering Quince cashmere right now, anybody tried one of those?

[@aprilnv]

I had the Quince black cashmere hoodie. It pilled very badly unfortunately.

[@judithholder2537]

Am petite - 5' 3" hourglass - do not like Quince fit.

[@bridgiesue7]

@@judithholder2537 I'm hourglass as well, but I'm 6 feet tall. I often struggle with sweaters being too short in arm length.

[@KimberlyPerrotis]

I love mine, their cashmere sweaters, skirts and joggers. I would size down in them, sizing is generous. The only potential drawback I’ve found it that their cashmere is on the lightweight side, but that suits me any my climate perfectly, but perhaps not those in arctic climates. Mine haven’t pilled, but I get them dry-cleaned, I can’t do hand-washing (back trouble).🙂

[@solangelauthier2381]

Not everybody can buy cashmere, just like not everybody can afford a Hermes bag or a Rolls Royce. Why not accept it ? Uniqlo, H&M cashmere (and the like, all the fast fashion brands) does not have the luxury feel of cashmere. Quality has a price. Rather buy something else than lousy cashmere, which shouts « I wannabe but I have no money ». Real good cashmere is a luxury - and it shows.

[@IZombi-mx9ls]

You can wait for sales. I bought my MD cashmere sweater for 40$ last year and many others wool cashmere blend for max 50$

[@solangelauthier2381]

@@IZombi-mx9ls I hate sales. Besides, a 40 USD cashmere, even on sale, is a lousy cashmere. Quality has a price. I rather have one or two high quality cashmeres than many lousy ones. I am not in over consumption.

[@IZombi-mx9ls]

​@@solangelauthier2381This is a completely wrong assumption. Go to Oman or Albania, you will see how cheap cashmere really is. The fact that someone is making you pay high prices for products is no indication of quality at all, it is greed based on the fact that there are people who think they are better than others because they can afford more.

[@shefk7325]

I'd prefer to buy a Uniqlo cashmere (got one for $ 48 last year on sale) over an acrylic sweater of $30-40 from hm/Zara etc. At that price, having a natural fibre is simply better than synthetic one- the end. I'm not thinking of "oh I'm gonna look soooo luxurious". It DOES look better than synthetic fibre and is softer. And that's the basic purpose of it and not some weird gatekeeping that you are attempting here lol.

[@vishyav]

Would love to see a collab with @wangjenniferr because this is so true!