Cashmere: once the stuff of my “dream wardrobe” Pinterest board and firmly filed under “too spenny to even think about”.
I mean, it’s made from the softest underbelly hair of Mongolian goats and spun into something so cloud-like it practically whispers “luxury”. But here’s the thing: if you know the best places to shop cashmere in 2025, it doesn’t have to be expensive or damaging to the environment.
Thanks to brands such as Uniqlo, Marks & Spencer, Cos and Rise & Fall, the everyday-wear cashmere revolution is well and truly here. Sure, the affordable stuff mostly uses shorter cashmere fibres (the ones luxury brands don’t want, meaning a bit of pilling over time), but with a gentle handwash every six wears (I use shampoo) and summer storage in a cloth bag with a cedar block, it can last for years. Plus, at the end of its use, it can be recycled and, unlike polyester, which sits in landfill for ever, cashmere biodegrades.
And trust me, it’s worth the spend and care for the return. There’s something about cashmere that goes beyond style – it’s how it feels against your skin: soft, supremely warm and soothing, like a hug you didn’t know you needed. Though I’m considering a navy V-neck from Gobi, a brand that works directly with Mongolian goat herders, I currently live in my navy turtleneck and grey crew-neck jumper from Uniqlo – £89.90 and £79.90 respectively. They’re my most worn pieces now, not just because they look good but because they make me feel good – special, even. I pair them with jeans, silk skirts, tailored trousers, layer them over Stripe & Stare long-sleeves and, on the chilliest nights, they go straight over my pyjamas.
The point is cashmere has gone from unattainable to possible and, most importantly, responsible, providing comfort and warmth and a blast of quiet joy, too. If you’ve ever thought, “I’d love a cashmere jumper, but…”, this guide is for you. Let’s dive in.
RISE + FALL
Excitingly, this B-Corp British business is dedicated to offering the very best luxury cashmere without the crazy-high price tag. By sourcing grade A cashmere direct from Mongolia – yes, the very stuff used by the most luxurious of brands, with no pilling! – Rise & Fall eliminates middlemen and passes on the savings to us. Its most popular pieces are an oversize cashmere wrap (£195), essentially a wearable cashmere blanket, which comes in 13 colours, cashmere socks (£49) and its button-up V-neck cardigan (£195).
Rise & Fall Women's Finest Cashmere Knitted V Neck Cardigan
UNIQLO
Q: How does Uniqlo offer the best-value cashmere on the high street? A: It has its very own herd of goats, primarily in Mongolia! This allows them to control the production process and keep prices in the realms of affordable, and why so many of us already love and wear Uniqlo cashmere, including me. Its main styles, the classic crew-neck, V-neck and turtleneck, come in an array of colours, from cream and navy to pink and yellow, and in sizes from XXS to XXL.
COS
Since partnering with the Good Cashmere Standard by the Aid by Trade Foundation, the Swedish brand Cos has expanded its range of cashmere into a range of practical and elegant investment buys that are worth every penny. Its edit includes my personal favourite, a brushed cashmere hoodie (£200), chunky turtleneck jumper (£250), short-sleeve T-shirt (£125) and delicate button-front cardigan (£155.) For a new-season twist, it’s offering the classic pure cashmere crew neck (£155) in a very pretty – and skin-brightening – shade of orange sorbet.
MARKS & SPENCER
Marks & Spencer sources its cashmere using the Sustainable Fibre Alliance, which supports herding communities and the wellbeing of the cashmere goats, and reduces the environmental impact of cashmere production. This makes its range of cashmere, including the animal print cashmere crew-neck (£99) and button-front pure cashmere cardigan (£95), available in sizes 6-22, even more desirable. This isn’t just cashmere…
GOBI
Gobi is a cashmere brand with a difference. Its factories, staff and design studios are all in Mongolia, making it one of the country’s biggest employers. It sources its cashmere with nomadic partners who follow the goats, and when they shed their hair every April, the fibres are collected through the ancient practice of combing. Better still, because the goats vary in colour, Gobi’s organic range features undyed jumpers in soft shades of taupe and grey exactly as nature intended (from £74.50 in sizes S-XL). Gobi also offers fashion pieces, including cashmere hoods (£99) and silk/cashmere blended midi-skirts (£134.50), and its new-season range includes oversize V-neck knits. Perfect for spring.
