Monday, December 8, 2008

A Black Cashmere Sweater Makes for a Nice Gift

By Travis Killian

A black cashmere sweater is a wonderful gift to give anyone. Like a fine crystal, a cashmere sweater is always appreciated and can be given with pride and confidence that the gift will be greatly appreciated. It makes for both a gift that can be given when you are doubtful about what gift to give and when you want something special to give someone to cherish forever.

Anyone who has had the chance to wear a cashmere sweater will remember the exquisitely luxurious feel of the fabric against the skin. A black cashmere sweater stands out even more, not only for its luxury but also for the high level of sophistication it suggests. After all, practically everyone knows the value of a cashmere sweater.

The value of the cashmere sweater not only can be limited to just the price tag, but you can also appreciate the work involved in making fine cashmere. From extracting the fur from the Himalayan goats to weaving it into a final product to be worn, a person will feel blessed to wear cashmere.

At first, the cashmere sweaters that became popular originated from the wool that came from goats in the province of Kashmir. Now, however, we get most of our supply from China. What makes this material so great is the fact that it is one of nature's beauty. From the works of the goat's diet, their environment conditions and their evolution, nature has created a work of art in cashmere.

Only the underdown from the breast and the underbelly of the goats are taken in springtime when they shed their hair. You can get only 150 grams of underdown from each goat, but wool from these parts are the softest. Goat wool is not like sheep wool. The fibers are shorter. This makes it harder to weave the wool into fabrics and garments. The finest wool comes from white goats, and these are subsequently dyed to produce the elegant black cashmere sweaters.

The outstanding qualities of the cashmere sweater fabric plus its relative rarity have combined to make the black cashmere sweater a true thing of value. The rich and famous know that. It is said that the wife of Napoleon Bonaparte was so smitten with a liking for cashmere fabrics that she prevailed upon the Emperor to obtain for her no less than seventeen cashmere shawls.

When you give your gift of a black cashmere sweater, it may help for you to furnish a brief historical note about the origins of the cashmere sweater. The historical perspective may engender more appreciation from your recipient.

But when they wear your gift, they cannot help but notice the way the sweater sets off the colors of the clothes they wear with it. The blacks will reach the full fruition of their elegance and the other colors will burst into more vivid clarity when they hang in contrast to the lush exquisiteness of the black cashmere sweater. - 16463

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