Views: 0 Author: David Si Publish Time: 2026-05-15 Origin: WFS Cashmere
Starting a cashmere brand is one of the most exciting and, frankly, intimidating things a fashion entrepreneur can do. The market is aspirational, the margins are attractive, and the product itself carries a kind of built-in credibility. But cashmere is also expensive, complex to source, and unforgiving of mistakes. If you're thinking about launching a cashmere clothing line, this guide walks you through everything you actually need to know—not the idealized version, but the practical path from concept to collection.
This sounds obvious, but we see brand founders jump straight to sourcing before they've answered some fundamental questions:
Who is your customer? Cashmere spans a huge price range—from budget pieces at £50 to luxury at £800+. Know exactly who you're designing for.
What does your brand stand for? Sustainability? Accessible luxury? Timeless investment dressing? This affects every downstream decision.
What's your price architecture? Working backward from your retail price, what manufacturing cost can you afford and still maintain your margin?
Our standard recommendation: nail your positioning before you talk to a single manufacturer. A vague brief produces vague results. A clear brief—even if it's still evolving—lets a good manufacturer help you make smart decisions.
Your product plan is your roadmap. At minimum, it should include:
Seasonal collection structure: How many styles per season? Which categories (sweaters, accessories, outerwear)?
Fiber strategy: 100% cashmere? Cashmere blends? Do you need organic or GOTS-certified fiber?
Gauge preferences: Fine gauge for layering? Chunky for statement pieces? Both?
Color palette: Seasonal colors or evergreen neutrals? Custom dyes or stock color options?
Rough quantity targets: This affects your pricing and your ability to negotiate.
This is the decision that will make or break your brand. Not all cashmere manufacturers are equal, and "Chinese cashmere manufacturer" is not a sufficient specification. Here's what to evaluate:
A vertically integrated manufacturer—like WFS Cashmere—controls the entire production process in-house, from yarn preparation through finishing and packaging. This gives you better quality control, faster lead times, and more flexibility.
An assembly model manufacturer outsources some steps—yarn spinning, dyeing, or finishing—to third-party facilities. This isn't necessarily bad, but it adds complexity, cost, and quality risk.
We recommend working with vertically integrated manufacturers for your first collection. The fewer handoffs, the better.
What are your certifications? At minimum, you need OEKO-TEX Standard 100 (product safety) and BSCI or SEDEX (social compliance). If you're building a sustainable brand, ask about GOTS.
What's your minimum order quantity (MOQ)? This varies widely. We offer 100 pieces per style as a standard MOQ, with flexibility for stock fabric or color options.
What's your lead time? From sample approval to delivery, allow 2-3 months for a new custom production run. Existing stock yarn and color options can be much faster.
Can you produce my target gauge range? Not every manufacturer can produce fine gauge and chunky in the same facility. Know what you need before you ask.
Do you offer OEM, ODM, or both? OEM means you provide the design and they produce. ODM means they can contribute design and development. Many brands start with OEM and move to ODM as they scale.
At WFS Cashmere, we offer both OEM and ODM services. For first-time cashmere brand founders, our ODM service is often the most valuable—we can take you from a rough concept or even a reference image through to a fully developed, production-ready sample. We have a style library with hundreds of existing designs as a starting point, and our design team can customize anything.
For brands that already have a strong design identity, our OEM service gives you direct control over every specification.
Sampling is where most first-time brand founders get surprised by the timeline and cost. Here's what to expect:
Sample lead time: Typically 2-6 weeks depending on complexity. Simple stock-color samples are faster; fully custom samples take longer.
Sample cost: This varies by manufacturer. We charge for samples because cashmere samples involve real yarn, real labor, and real machine time. Budget for this.
Sample iterations: Plan for 2-3 rounds of sampling for any significant new style. Don't rush this. A sample that doesn't meet your standard in the hand-feel, construction, or fit will produce hundreds of units that also don't meet your standard.
Fit and grading: Make sure your manufacturer understands your fit standards. Cashmere fits differently than cotton or synthetic—fabric weight and drape change the way a garment sits. Provide reference garments if possible.
Once your sample is approved, production begins. Here's what happens at a well-run factory:
Bulk yarn sourcing: Your approved yarn specification is ordered in production quantities.
Dyeing: Yarns are dyed to your color standards. Always request a strike-off (a small-dye test) before bulk dyeing.
Knitting: Garments are knitted to the approved sample specification.
Assembly and finishing: Linking, washing, brushing, and quality inspection.
Final inspection: Every piece is checked before packing. We also offer third-party inspection services (SGS, Bureau Veritas) for brands that require them.
This is where your brand comes to life in the customer's hands. For cashmere, we recommend:
Interior labels: Care instructions and fiber content (legally required in most markets)
Hang tags: Your brand label, price label, and any certifications you hold
Garment bags: Clear poly bags to protect the cashmere during shipping and retail display
Retail packaging: Tissue paper, brand boxes, or branded tissue—whatever fits your brand aesthetic
We offer full custom labeling and packaging as part of our standard service. Many brands use this to create a premium unboxing experience that justifies their price point.
Our standard delivery terms are FOB Qingdao Port, China. From there, you arrange freight to your warehouse or distribution center. We work with brands to provide:
Commercial invoices and packing lists
Certificates of origin
OEKO-TEX and GOTS compliance documentation
Any test reports required for customs clearance
For brands importing into the EU, UK, or US, be aware of import duty rates for cashmere garments—they vary by country and by HS code classification. Your freight forwarder should be able to advise on this.
After working with dozens of brands launching their first cashmere collections, here's what we see go wrong most often:
Underestimating the cost of quality cashmere. Cashmere is expensive to produce. A genuine 100% cashmere sweater in premium quality will not cost the same as a cotton sweater, regardless of quantity. Build your business model around realistic margins.
Sourcing on price alone. The cheapest cashmere manufacturer quote you receive will almost certainly not be the best one. Fiber quality, construction standards, and communication responsiveness matter far more than the line item cost.
Skipping the sample phase. Production quality is always at or below sample quality. If you approve a sample that doesn't meet your standard, the production run won't magically improve it.
Unclear specifications. "Cashmere sweater" is not a specification. Micron count, ply, gauge, weight, construction details, color tolerances, packaging—all of these need to be documented.
Ignoring certifications. If your target retailer requires BSCI or your target customers care about OEKO-TEX, make certifications a sourcing requirement from day one, not an afterthought.
We've worked with brand founders across the full spectrum—from entrepreneurs launching their first small collection to established retailers building out a cashmere line. Our standard starting order is 100 pieces per style, which gives new brands a manageable entry point while still meeting our production minimums.
Our team can guide you through the entire process, from product development to shipping. We exhibit at Fashion Access Hong Kong, Intertextile Shanghai, and Première Vision Paris—come say hello if you'd like to meet in person.
Ready to start? Contact our team or reach David directly at wfs808@wfscashmere.com or via WhatsApp.
David Si is the CEO of WFS Cashmere Industry Co., Ltd., a vertically integrated cashmere and natural fiber knitwear manufacturer with 15+ years of experience supporting new and established cashmere brands. WFS produces 600,000+ pieces annually across women's, men's, children's, and pet knitwear categories. Browse our full product range or get in touch to start your cashmere journey.
