Does Wool Cashmere Shrink?

Does wool cashmere shrink? Yes—but only with heat, moisture, and agitation. Learn how to wash, dry, and unshrink cashmere and wool sweaters. Prevention tips and 30+ FAQs.

Does wool Cashmere shrink? : Yes, both wool and cashmere can shrink. Cashmere is a type of wool (it comes from the undercoat of cashmere goats), and all animal fibres are vulnerable to shrinking under the wrong conditions.

But here's what most people don't realise: cashmere doesn't shrink just because it gets wet. It shrinks because of a specific combination of heat, moisture, and agitation. Understanding that combination is the difference between a sweater that lasts a decade and one that ends up fitting a nine-year-old.

Source: Julie Lopin ART

The Short Answer

Both wool and cashmere shrink when exposed to hot water, aggressive washing, or heat from a dryer. Cashmere is particularly delicate—its fibres are finer than most wool, which makes them more responsive to heat and friction.

But: quality cashmere that's washed correctly does not shrink and can actually retain its shape better than wool over time. The fibre itself isn't the problem—the problem is how we treat it.

Why Do Wool and Cashmere Shrink? The Science

The answer lies in the microscopic structure of the fibres.