Fiber length ranges from 0.8 inch for cheap cashmere to up to 2.5 inches for the most luxurious. The diameter of the fiber must be less than 19 microns to be considered cashmere. In comparison, human hair has a diameter of 75 microns. Finer cashmere (often around 14 microns) is what's going into luxury garments.
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-01-17/features/1001140333_1_cashmere-camel-hair-manufacturers-institute-mongolian-goat
The fibre is also known as pashm or pashmina for its use in the handmade shawls of the Himalayas. The woolen shawls made in Kashmir are mentioned in Afghan texts between the 3rd century BC and the 11th century AD.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pashmina
Cashmere shawls have been manufactured in Nepal and Kashmir for thousands of years. The test for a quality pashmina is warmth and feel. Pashmina and Cashmere are derived from the capra hircus mountain goat.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pashmina
J.Crew also has jumped on the midpriced cashmere bandwagon and is carrying a wide selection of designs, as are Macy's and Bloomingdale's. Nordstrom has an assortment of sweaters and coats ranging from less than $100 to more than $1,500.
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-01-17/features/1001140333_1_cashmere-camel-hair-manufacturers-institute-mongolian-goat
As with all other wool products, the fiber content of a shawl, scarf or other item marketed as pashmina must be accurately disclosed. For example, a blend of cashmere and silk might be labeled 50% Cashmere, 50% Silk or 70% Cashmere, 30% Silk, depending upon the actual cashmere and silk content.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pashmina
The wool comes from three breeds of the Pashmina goat; namely the Changthangi or Kashmir Pashmina goat, the Chegu, and Chyangara or Nepalese Pashmina goat. Pashmina shawls are hand spun, and woven in Indian Kashmir and Nepal, and made from fine cashmere fibre.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pashmina
Cashmere is eight times warmer than sheep's wool, yet significantly lighter, which means that to reap its full reward, a buyer should invest in 100 percent cashmere of good quality. If you don't want to splurge on a $1,000 sweater, then a stylish midprice cashmere sweater could be a fine alternative.
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-01-17/features/1001140333_1_cashmere-camel-hair-manufacturers-institute-mongolian-goat
Wool actually encompasses natural fibers from many animals, not just from sheep. Some of the most ones which you'll often see on apparel tags are Merino, Alpaca, Mohair, Angora, Cashmere, and Camel Hair. Other less common wools are harder to find and often very expensive.
http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/institute/a23099/10-unusual-types-of-wool/
Pashmina is the finest type of cashmere wool. The textiles made from it were first woven in Kashmir, India. The name comes from Persian: پشمینه ‎‎ / pašmina, meaning made from wool and literally translates to Soft Gold in Kashmiri.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pashmina
Of course, not everyone wants to pay the price for good-quality 100 percent cashmere made in Europe, and there's nothing wrong with wanting cashmere on the cheap. But it's important to be an informed buyer. First there is the question of fiber quality, which is measured in length and thickness.
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-01-17/features/1001140333_1_cashmere-camel-hair-manufacturers-institute-mongolian-goat
what type of wool is cashmere
Cashmere are derived from the capra hircus mountain goat. Cashmere wool is a type of wool that is derived from the Capra hircus mountain goat.  