At The White Company, we’re so proud of our sustainably sourced cashmere, which we believe represents premium quality and outstanding value, whatever your style and spend. We spoke to our expert cashmere buyers to get the lowdown on the different weights, styles and finishes, and help you understand exactly what to expect from these exceptional pieces.

All cashmere is graded – you may sometimes see it referred to by letters: A, B, C and so on. Grading of cashmere usually refers to the length of the fibres within each thread. Longer fibres are better for making softer garments so, in general, cashmere that has ‘longer staple fibres’ will be higher grade.

We use high-grade cashmere for our products – whether they are pure cashmere, a blend of materials, or just have ‘a dash of cashmere’ to add to the premium feel, you can be sure the cashmere we use is always excellent quality.

There are lots of technical terms associated with cashmere. The ‘gauge’ refers to the number of stiches; ‘ends’ (or ‘ply’ in America) are the number of yarns used in each thread. But there are many variables, so none of these terms – in isolation – reflect the actual weight of the cashmere.

To keep things simple, our cashmere comes in three weights, which we refer to as ultra-lightweight, lightweight and luxury. Read on to discover them.

Sometimes called featherweight, this is our sheerest and finest cashmere, with an open stitch appearance. We have around eight styles in this category, usually with a slim fit that makes them brilliantly versatile. You can wear them on their own early in the season while the weather is still warm, or later on as a layering item. Prices in this range start as low as £89.

Try our Cashmere Layering Knitted Tee as an oh-so-cosy, next-to-the-skin piece, or layer it beautifully over T-shirts or camisoles.

Our next weight has a knit that is closer together, so it’s less sheer. This makes it ideal for timeless classics that will last you years if they are properly looked after. Oversized knits and core jumper styles work really well in this category.

If you were only going to buy one cashmere item, our buyer, Georgina, would pick an item from this range. “I’d choose a beautiful core Roll Neck Jumper. It’s versatile and it will last forever. Ours are slightly boxy so they give this cool, contemporary feel, almost like an updated classic,” she says.

This is our most-premium cashmere range, and as soon as you touch it, it’s easy to feel why. It has a much plumper feel: squeeze the fabric between your fingertips and you can actually feel the bounciness to it. It uses a lot more cashmere to create these garments, and this is reflected in the higher price point. These are forever purchases that you will want to cherish, and even pass on.

Our Cashmere Cable Jumper showcases a range of intricate cable stiches and ribbing details, and is like wearing one big hug.

All of the cashmere in our clothing has been certified by The Good Cashmere Standard®, an independent standard for sustainably certified cashmere that encompasses all aspects of sustainable production. We also pay attention to cuts and finishes to ensure garments last well and retain their shape. The change in knit style on side splits, for instance, helps to stop splaying. We never use plastic buttons on cashmere – always shell or mother-of-pearl. The finished result is the type of premium attention you rarely get elsewhere on the high street.