Cashmere Shawls & Pashminas
Think like a bug when you store your gorgeous, expensive cashmere and woolen sweater and pashmina collection. Remember, varmints that feast on cashmere sweaters and fine wools like nice, damp, humid, warm environments like attics, basements and garages. They also love the natural fibers of your "gorge-ous" (think "munch-a-bunch-o'cashmere") clothing and they hate manmade solvents as a general rule. More about this later under "Deterring the Rotten Varmints."

As you are thinking like a bug when storing your yummy angora and merino wool pieces, try to set up conditions that you as a bug would hate! I don't believe that there are bugs that prefer scarves to sweaters and coats, so be sure you consider the fiber content of your best clothing each season when you think about storage issues. You'll be glad you did! Here are some tips that will help:

I like to use acid free tissue on my sweaters and scarves. Not only will the tissue keep them dry and protected, the acid free status of the tissue means that you can decide not to wear a sweater for 10 years and then nostalgically go rooting for it in your vast collection of cashmere treasures. You will likely find it with no undue chemical reactions to the tissue, no untimely deterioration and no color changes. How great is that! After I do the tissue, I use plastic bags for my sweaters. I like the gusseted ones that allow room to fold the garment neatly. If the bag doesn't have holes in it already, I put a few in it just to keep the environment inside the bag from becoming a little hothouse for mold and mildew.
"Deterring the Rotten Varmints"
Be sure that the garment you are storing is clean and completely dry!! Molds and mildews thrive in warm, moist environment and there is no need for this to happen to your garments no matter where you live! Additionally, if you forget to clean your garment in the rush of spring storage, the contents of an invisible stain may oxidize and wreak havoc in the fall when you go to get your awesome sweater. If you are like me, you will have some food stains somewhere on your sweater at some point. These are natural moth food, and we don't encourage moth activity around our sweaters. The first step is to wash or dryclean the sweaters before you put them away!

The best place to store your natural fibers is in a cedar lined closet or chest. You can also just leave them in the drawers of your closet and throw in a handful of cedar chips. I also throw in copious amounts of mothballs since both are natural deterrents to moth and mold activity

If you need to put your sweaters in the garage or attic for the summer, you can use those nice big see through plastic tubs with the tight fitting lids. Just be sure that the sweaters are clean, dry, wrapped in tissue and treated with moth balls before you put them into the container. I also like to put some of those fabric bags full of silica gel in with my sweaters to absorb moisture and help prevent any moisture damage.
Not only will this care save your beautiful garments from year to year, you will also build up a wonderful collection instead of replacing damaged pieces from year to year.
Enjoy!

Gorgeous Cashmeres & Wools
Shampoo can be a wonderful cleaner for your natural fibers such as wool and cashmere, however, just pick one that doesn't strip natural oils. Remember, shampoo is manufactured for human hair, thus, natural oils that may be stripped out during washing and conditioning can be replaced. Your lovely cashmere sweaters and scarves are no longer growing living entities. We recommend rosemary mint shampoo from Aveda. The mint will remove the surface dirt without stripping the oil. Any pure chamomile conditioner rinse is a great treatment for your cashmere, your woolens --and for your hair!
DO NOT BLEACH...EVER!
Spot clean your cashmere immediately when you have an accident and always pretreat spots before you wash. Always take the path of least resistance and begin conservatively when working with natural fibers. To safely spot treat your cashmeres, start out with a bit of cold water or club soda and blot it into the spot before washing. Some of the dry cleaning solutions on the market work for more recalcitrant spots also. Do not rub the spot...BLOT! Use a clean paper towel or tissue with NO print or design pattern. You can easily create a hole or worn spot by rubbing, and at the very least, you will disturb the beautiful nap on your fine cashmere sweater or pashmina shawl.
To properly wash your garment, whether you use a shampoo or cleaner specifically made for cashmere, fill a basin or sink with warm water and completely dissolve the chosen solvent. Immerse the garment into the warm water and squeeze very gently with both hands forcing the warm soapy water in through the strands of the fibers.
Do not ever twist or wring a wet sweater. PERIOD!
When you have gently agitated the cashmere or woolen sweater and the water becomes cloudy, empty the water while holding onto the garment with your free hand. When you have removed most of the soapy water, fill the sink or wash basin with slightly warm clean water, replace the sweater in the vessel and gently squeeze the water through the garment. Empty and continue this process until the water in the bowl is clear of cloudy solvents--shampoo, dirt or other detritus.
Gently gather your precious cashmere or wool sweater into your hands and press the excess water from the piece--ever so carefully. Plop the entire wet garment onto a soft fluffy towl and wrap it securely with the towel being careful not to squeeze or twist!
Get another clean dry towel and lay it on a flat surface. Spread your cashmere sweater flat onto the towel and away from direct heat and sunlight.
If you must, you can steam your lovely piece with a good quality steam iron such as a Rowenta. Do not allow the iron itself to touch your garment. You can hold your steam iron in one hand and steam the garment while you gently brush away any wrinkles with your free hand. This method will give you the most beautifully finished cashmere garment that will last for many years!
I actually learned this technique back in the 60's from a wonderful dry cleaner who used to treat expensive garments for a department store where I did visual merchandising. She used to steam velvet as well as fine natural fibers with a steamer in one hand and a stiff feather in the other brushing in one direction as she worked. This method protected the nap of the piece and is actually part of the difference between a high end garment and one that is of pedestrian quality.
I would suggest that you wash your good cashmeres and woolens no more than 2x during a season. For wearing guidelines, please see my other recommendations.
It may sound like a lot of work, but it's not once you get the hang of it. The absolute beauty, rarity, quality and softness of cashmere is worth the effort. I by far prefer this method to dry cleaning, which depending upon the cleaner can sometimes just take the life out of your beautiful cashmere.
Enjoy!

There are a gazillion pashmina available on the internet at any one time. You can spend .99 with $12 shipping and have one sent from China, or $30 plus shipping for one from a reputable ebay seller--and you can buy one for $99 from Macy's too.
In many cases, they are comparable in quality but differ in types of fibers used. How can you spot a good pashmina in a crowd? What distinguishes different pashminas and cashmere scarves and their various countries of origin?

This is an example of hand tied fringe on a 2 ply pashmina and a picture of hand knotted fringe on a single-ply ring scarf pashmina
I feel duly qualified as a card-carrying cashmere addict/ebay seller who has imported dozens of custom-made 4 ply hand knit ponchos, and piles of handwoven pashminas from Nepal to sell on ebay along with handwoven cashmere that I have personally selected from factories in Istanbul, Turkey. I have also purchased lots of those colorful solid cashmere pashminas from China so that I could supply my customers when I didn't have time to hand select my pashminas.
This pashmina has a loose waffle weave to it...typical of superfine ring scarves
This is a gorgeous paisley design which is based on an ancient traditional Indian pattern used in Kashmir cashmere scarves. This pashmina was woven in Istanbul, Turkey and it has hand knotted fringe. The fiber is imported from Nepal, where the only true cashmere can be procured.
Pashmina is the name of the fiber, cashmere. They are one and the same. The term pashmina has come to encompass 70%cashmere and 30% silk scarves as well as 100% cashmere scarves...or even wool and rayon scarves are called pashminas. The definition is broadening to include all scarves, mufflers, shawls and "pashminas." Now you know. Check the fiber content of the pashmina you buy.
Pashmina is really a soft wonderful wool that is combed by hand from the "changra" goat, that originate high in the mountains of Tibet and Mongolia. This fiber is also known as cashmere, which is the old spelling of the name of the region Kashmir. Cashmere and pashmina are one and the same! A gossamer fine pashmina yarn can only be spun by hand. Mechanical processes used in many countries require the addition of silk, wool or synthetic yarn that can be carbonized after weaving. These pieces have an entirely different feel than the light, airy pure cashmere hand woven pashmina. Scarves produced from cashmere silk blends have a slight shine to them that is preferred by some people. The pure cashmere handwoven pashminas are a bit duller and softer in appearance despite their stunning colors.
The traditional ring shawl from Nepal is so fine and thin that it is said to be able to pass through a ring. The picture above is taken of one of my scarves in the center of my engagement ring. The cashmere fibers are so fine and thin, and the scarf is handwoven, so it is very very light and airy and delicate.
The terms 2 ply, or 4 ply do not really denote very much when describing cashmere because the width of the original cashmere fiber is so fine compared to wool or silk.
Some less expensive fiber blends are created by using rayon (or viscose) and cashmere. These scarves can also be quite beautiful although I don't believe that they are nearly as lovely as the cashmere scarves.
Try a few different scarves in your price range and see what you like! You'll love the versatility as well as the beauty of these pieces.

How to Care for Your Cashmere & Wool Sweatersby: priscillacloset( 4417) Edit this guide
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You realize that you can pay anywhere from $49.99 for a Charter Club Cashmere from Macy's to $899 up at I. Magnin to buy a quality cashmere or wool sweater. Once you get that fabulous piece, you need to take really good care of it. It's really a moral issue! Firstly, the very fiber is exceedingly rare in all the world, so that in itself makes it your responsibility to treat your new cashmere as an object of art--regardless of how much you paid for it. Additionally, cashmere requires a great deal of hand crafting even for items that are manufactured on machines and are not hand knit. Actually, owning a cashmere sweater or scarf is a real rite of passage, actually!
Here are a few tips for keeping your beautiful sweater lovely for many years:
I once ruined a favorite cashmere sweater by wearing it with my signature gigantic gold pendant that hangs from a chain. Just the swinging around of the pendant caused my sweater to pill and pull and totally lose its texture and nap--permanently. Cashmere is soft and fine. Wear something fine and soft with it---like a scarf--some beautiful pearls---a dainty gold chain with a dainty little pendant---keep the bold stuff for your chunky knits....better proportion anyway!
Don't wear your sweater more often than once every 3 days. It may sound silly, but cashmere is a natural fiber that is dyed with organic dyes. They need to breathe even more than other woven fibers.
Cashmere will pill after you wear it. You should remove pills by simply pulling them off. Don't ever brush or shave a cashmere knit. It is the nature of the beast and isn't really a negative characteristic. This is caused by abrasion from your cell phone, jewelry, jackets, etc. It won't happen to your very fine knits as much as it will to your fat, 3 and 4 ply knits.
Never hang your cashmere! In fact, never hang your sweaters! They should be carefully folded in thirds (not in half). Folding in thirds prevents that unsightly fold down the center of the garment and folding will help your sweater keep its shape.
Don't crowd your sweaters in the drawers...cashmere needs to breath. You will also reduce the fleece or the nap of the weave if you pile them on top of eachother too densely.
I hope this helps!