I purchased a """cashmere""" pullover on AliExpress. Funny first impressions
A funny discussion.
I like to experiment, even if it sometimes wastes time, resources, and money. This time (why not) I purchased a couple of garments from AliExpress.
This thread is about a 100% """cashmere""" that I purchased for ~35$
The article proposed Is a thick cable-knit sweater
Let's start with the fact that the cashmere in this price range is NOT cashmere, but what they refer as "Mink Cashmere", i.e. a fabric made of the ha1r of the Mink. I also bought a sweater in *supposedly* real cashmere, which I am waiting to receive and compare. The price was 2.5 times this one.
What I liked
- I never heard about this fibre before, and I have to say that a first touch it actually is very soft. I have some actual cashmere sweaters that I purchased in reputable retail and the feel is absolutely comparable. I however didn't wash it yet.
- The sweater is actually pretty thick. I was expecting something more flimsy as several reviews suggest, but I was pleasantly surprised.
- The sweater is actually warm. I put on a T-shirt and went out for groceries without a jacket, there's 12 degrees outside now and I felt too hot. It is indeed for the coldest months.
What I didn't like
I expected Chinese sizes to be very small, according to their description, a 70kg man should buy a L size (lol). I usually wear S, so I went for M. Well, turned out they actually f1t big, or better, they f1t long . I don't get how the cut is done, it is not bad, the shoulders are fine, but it should be at least 5cm shorter.
The cable-knit pattern is there, not bad, but is not very noticeable, it pops out just a mm from the main fabric and it would have the benefit of being a bit more prominent.
The sweater is fuzzy. Veeeeeeery fuzzy. As a matter of fact, is the fuzziest sweater I've ever seen. This is probably the biggest turn-off. I did some r3search on this Mink ha1r fibre, and read that it's even thinner than cashmere, this gives the product its soft touch, but (I assume, I may be wrong) that it causes this fuzziness effect.
I spent a good 30 minutes shaving the sweater, and collecting what looked to be enough to make a pair of socks, but then the situation didn't really change much, and I started feeling I was peeling away too much material.
Here's a picture gallery, including the amount I shaved away, and for how much possible, a comparison left-right of a shaved and unshaved area
Conclusions
Will I wear it? Well yes, it's soft, warm, doesn't stitch at all and overall doesn't look bad\
Will I advice purchasing it? Well, not really, it was a funny experiment and I look forward to receiving the actual cashmere one (assuming all those labels are real and I am not just receiving some plastic crap). For 35$ is a huge bargain and even if maybe I end up having to make some small adjustments, as long as it doesn't melt the first time I wash it, I am happy with it.
I will update you with the post-washing details