Cashmere Sourcing: Frequently Asked Questions

The questions we are actually asked, answered plainly. If yours is not here, ask it — we would rather answer before you order than after.

Minimum order

What is your minimum order quantity?

Our standard minimum is 50 pieces per style and colour. The exact figure can depend on product type, yarn, construction and customisation, so it is confirmed in writing at quotation. Below 50, dyeing and machine or loom set-up costs per piece stop making sense for most products.

What if I need fewer than 50 pieces?

Tell us the product, quantity and timeline through the custom quantity form. We review smaller projects individually and will tell you honestly whether one is workable. Acceptance is not guaranteed; an existing construction in an existing colour is the most likely to work.

Can a small brand order from you?

Yes. Independent brands are a large part of who we work with. A first collection of three styles in two colours (300 pieces at the standard minimum) is a normal order here, not a favour.

Can I mix colours within the minimum?

Yes, across styles and colours in one order. Each colour of each style is its own line, and each line starts at 50 pieces: two styles in two colours each is 200 pieces.

Can 50 pieces be split across sizes?

For knitwear, tell us the size ratio you want within each style and colour. Size splits are reviewed per style and confirmed at quotation.

Sampling

Can I get a sample before ordering?

Yes, and you should. For a style close to something already in our range we can send a comparable reference piece at low cost and short lead time. For a new design we have a dedicated sample made.

What does a sample cost?

A new development sample is charged at 2× the unit production cost, payable 100% in advance. The sampling cost is deducted from your production invoice once a purchase order is confirmed for that style, under the agreed terms, so it is not an extra cost once you order.

How long does sampling take?

Approximately 30–45 days for a new development sample. A reference piece is considerably faster.

Can I send my own design?

Yes: a tech pack, sketches, a reference product, a mood board or a written brief. A design charge may apply depending on complexity.

Do you offer private label and custom packaging?

Yes. Your woven label, care label, hang tag and packaging. Artwork needs to arrive early because labels have their own lead time. See private label cashmere.

Production and delivery

What is your lead time?

Approximately 45–60 working days from confirmed order and advance payment. The schedule is confirmed at the time of order.

How do payments work?

50% advance on order placement, 50% before dispatch, for orders meeting the minimum.

What do your prices include?

Quotations are ex-works (EXW) or FOB Kathmandu, as agreed, and exclude shipping. Freight, duties and destination taxes are payable by the consignee. We handle Nepal export customs and can source freight quotes to suit your speed and budget.

What if production does not match the approved sample?

Raise it with us. A rejection rate of up to 5% of produced items is treated as acceptable in the trade; beyond that we expect to discuss it. This is why a written sample approval and a retained counter-sample matter.

Quality

How do I know it is really cashmere?

Handle it, weigh it, and read the specification. See how to tell if cashmere is real or fake, what pashmina is and how to check it and quality and specifications.

Why does cashmere pill?

Short fibre ends work loose and tangle at the surface. Some pilling on new cashmere is normal. Heavy persistent pilling usually indicates short fibre length or over-aggressive finishing. See how to care for cashmere.

Are you certified?

Our yarn suppliers are: OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, GOTS-aligned, Responsible Wool Standard, Sustainable Fibre Alliance and ISO 9001. Those certifications are held by our suppliers, not by Pashmina Studio. Our own quality checks are carried out with our partner workshops at yarn, in-process and final packing stages.

Can you reproduce the same colour next season?

Closely, not identically — dye lots vary when you dye natural fibre. Keep an approved counter-sample and a recorded reference, and order a full season’s requirement of a critical colour in one lot where possible.

Importing

What import duty will I pay?

It depends on your destination country, the product’s HS classification, its composition, and the trade arrangements in force at the time you import. We cannot give you a figure that will be true for every buyer, and any supplier who quotes you one without asking where you are should be treated cautiously. Check the current position with your own customs authority or broker before you commit.

Can you provide a certificate of origin?

We handle Nepal export customs and export documentation. Tell us which documents your import requires and we will confirm what we can issue.

Working with us

Are you a factory or a trading company?

Neither, exactly: we are a cashmere specialist. Pashmina Studio has worked in cashmere in Kathmandu since 1982 and is run by the second generation of the family. We do not own a factory. We develop your product, place it with trusted partner workshops and factories in the Kathmandu valley that we have worked with for years, check quality during production, and handle export. You deal with one person who knows cashmere, from enquiry to dispatch.

Do you sell to individuals?

Our business is B2B — wholesale, private label and corporate gifting. Get in touch and we will point you in the right direction.