What properties to look for in a sweater that won't shed on shirts?

[bugmenot2]

I bought a cashmere sweater from bloomies for over $200, it was a Joseph and Lyman, to wear with my business casual wardrobe. The thing shed like crazy, which is not something I would have expected at that price level.

What can I look for in a sweater that would be good for wearing over dress shirts? Does all cashmere shed like this? What about wool? Is it just a matter of material or is there something in the construction that I can look for?

 

[alliswell]

How many times have you worn it?

And really, who cares if it sheds as long as it look good?

Don't take it off during the day and then launder the shirt. No problem.

 

[TheFoo]

Cashmere comes in many different quality levels. Higher quality cashmere has longer staple fibers, minimizing pilling and shedding. You just have to spend more on sweaters from the right makers. You're better off with a nice merino wool sweater than buying a cheap cashmere one. My fiancee's cashmere sweaters from J. Crew are terrible compared to the cheaper, wool ones.

 

[j]

You could turn it inside out and use a sticky lint roller all over it. (I'd use one that's been used a little so it's not super sticky.) This will get most of the loose fibers off the inside of the sweater.

Also, a wash (do a search) seems to get rid of a fair bit of lint from new sweaters.

 

[bugmenot2]

i returned that sweater, i don't want a workaround, like using lint brush etc.

I'm gonna buy a new sweater. All I'm asking is: what can i look for in the sweater's description that will let me know it won't shed on my shirts.

someone suggested "quality" but the description says "quality" a lot of the time but it doesn't help me. also, i thought the one I purchased was pretty expensive for me.

i'm not opposed to cotton sweaters or cotton blends, would that help?

thanks

 

[j]

$2-300 retail for a cashmere sweater is objectively a fair bit of money, but it's not near the higher end of the scale. But I've seen some sweaters that retail for $5-600+ shed on shirts.

Cotton will not likely shed, at least I've never seen it. You could look for merino wool also, as the fibers seem to be longer or at least less "sticky" and likely to come off on things.

 

[HomerJ]

Wierd. I've never had a cashmere sweater shed on me and mine are $225 Macys house brand. If you paid retail for it, I'd take that $200 and get something nice on discount.

 

[bugmenot2]

thanks for the suggestions

 

[Reborn]

I picked up one of those on a pretty good sale and it shed for the first few wearings but has almost completely stopped. The first few wearings I just paired it with shirts that I didn't mind washing right after wearing and didn't take the sweater off.

 

[speedster.8]

A nice long fibered wool like Merino should not shed.
You could also try cashmere silk blends, as they are "armed" with the stronger and slicker fiber (silk) they tend to shed less. The surface on both, merino and cashmere/silk is smother and slicker so they would be valid options IMO
.

Speed