DON'T GET FLEECED Cashmere buyer's checklist

Shop with a reputable retailer. Sometimes your best option is to buy on faith.
Pashmina is not a fiber. It is an Indian word for cashmere, but it is used most often to indicate a silk and cashmere blend.
A sweater labeled 100 percent cashmere must be just that, according to laws overseen by the Federal Trade Commission. A blend indicating 20 percent cashmere must have that degree of the fiber. But there is no way to know for sure without its being tested in a laboratory.
Cashmere prices can be under $100 for a sweater. It depends on the retailers and how they buy the garments.
Examine the density of a sweater. It should be no less than two-ply.
If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. Consumer Reports advises against going too low.
If you question the quality, Consumer Reports suggests you examine the yarn-repair kit that comes with a garment. Untwist the yarn to be sure it is two ply. If it is single ply, you're not getting as much cashmere for your money. Move on.
Feel the garment. Try it on if possible. See how it feels to you.
Cashmere knits can be dry cleaned or washed in a mild detergent or baby shampoo and dried flat. Woven garments should be dry cleaned.