My In-Depth Naadam Cashmere Review: Luxury Basics Worth the Splurge?
As a cashmere enthusiast who has tried my fair share of brands over the last decade, I’m always on the hunt for that perfect balance of ethical production, quality construction and iconic style. In recent years, a new player by the name of Naadam has captured the attention of the cashmere world with its promises of “the world’s finest cashmere” that “empowers herders + farmers” along the way.
Naturally, I was intrigued. Could this brand really deliver ultra-soft, heirloom-quality cashmere and make a positive impact? I decided to put Naadam to the test across the board – from their Mongolian-sourced materials to their end products. After extensive first-hand washing, wearing and evaluating across several key pieces, I’m breaking down everything you need to know in this in-depth Naadam cashmere review.
Overview of Naadam: Setting Out to Change Cashmere
Naadam launched in 2013, the brainchild of childhood friends Matt Scanlan and Diederik Rijsemus. After a fateful trip to the Gobi desert in Mongolia, Matt and Diederik witnessed goat herders struggling to make a living while middlemen reaped large profits trading the ultra-fine cashmere fiber.
In that moment, Naadam was born – a direct-trade cashmere company aimed at “cutting out the middleman” to deliver herder-friendly prices upfront. Along the way, Naadam committed to reinvesting back into the Mongolian grasslands and communities that produce the cashmere through wildlife conservation, health services and more.
Over the past decade, Naadam has expanded from sweaters and accessories to a full collection of cashmere apparel for men and women. They’ve also opened several brick-and-mortar shops in NYC and built a cult following around their ethical approach and focus on traceable Mongolian materials.
But does Naadam actually live up to its grand mission in practice? Is it truly grade-A, best-in-class cashmere that’s worth the often staggering price tags? I ordered a mix of classic layering pieces and trend-driven seasonal styles to find out.
Unboxing Top Naadam Bestsellers: First Impressions
Eager to see and feel this Mongolian marvel for myself, I unpacked my first Naadam order comprised of:
- The Essential $75 Cashmere Sweater
- Oversized Cashmere Turtleneck
- Cashmere Joggers
- Cashmere Ribbed Beanie
Right away, the exceptionally soft handfeel and delicate thinness of the cashmere made an impression. Plush and cloud-like yet featherlight, the fabric flowed through my fingers like liquid.
Up close, the tightness of the knit construction was apparent – so tight in fact that the interior ribbing almost disappears into the outer face of the fabric. The colors also appeared rich and dimensionally heathered versus flat and uniform.
Perhaps most surprisingly, there were no loose threads, snags or pulls to be found despite the fineness of the weave. This initial lack of pilling or fuzz stood as early proof of the 16 micron grade quality.
Overall, exceptional first impressions that left me eager to see how they’d fare day-to-day.
The Essential $75 Cashmere Sweater
The hero product that persuaded many cashmere converts (myself included), this fitted crewneck sweater comes in a spectrum of versatile neutrals perfect for daily wear. I opted for the Heather Grey, excited by its smokey, dimensional color.
The perfectly-trimmed ribbed cuffs and hem offered a more polished look compared to the rolled or raw edges of other budget cashmeres. Despite the delicate feel, the sweater had noticeable structure that promised to hold its shape long-term. At $75 for a 100% cashmere layer, the value proposition was clearly unbeatable.
Oversized Cashmere Turtleneck
In stark contrast to the fitted essential sweater, this slouchy turtleneck prioritizes extreme comfort in an ideal fall/winter layering piece. The chunky rib knit appeared substantial, almost like a knit blanket scarf for your upper body.
I appreciated the smart details like thumb holes at the extra long cuffs and subtle side slits for movement. Although oversized, the smart seam placement and fit across the shoulders suggested the silhouette was intentional versus sloppy. The army green color felt fresh yet neutral – an ideal shade to pair with jeans all season long. At $195, the price reflected the increased amount of fabric but still hit below typical cashmere market rates.
Cashmere Joggers
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the order – I was skeptical of the jogger concept translated in such a delicate fabric. But the athletic tapered cut had me rethinking cashmere’s capabilities as a performance textile. The lightweight, four-way stretch fabric used throughout promised to move with me as well as any cotton-spandex blend.
Decked out with moto-inspired details like ribbed knee panels and ankle zips, these did not read as sloppy sweats but rather an elevated jogger perfect for wearing beyond gym sessions. The heather charcoal paired back seamlessly with the matching cashmere hoodie, ideal for a tonal workout outfit that still looks luxe. And at $175, the price almost rivaled cotton designs by mainstream activewear brands.
Cashmere Ribbed Beanie
A winter staple, the ribbed texture adds visual interest while the fine knit promises soft warmth without bulk. Nice details like the folded brim and extra long ribbing for foldover styling gives versatility. The neutral camel color complements black winter coats beautifully. And at $75, it hits affordability benchmarks for a 100% cashmere accessory.
Overall, the entire unboxing had me thoroughly impressed not only by the noteworthy softness and craftsmanship but also the balance of quality and value across both core and seasonal offerings. The proof however would be in the wearing…
Putting Naadam Cashmere to the Test: Quality & Performance Over Time
Beyond the buttery handfeel and elegant drape, I wanted to evaluate how Naadam’s Mongolian cashmere would withstand daily wear and care. Over the course of 60 days, I assessed the key pieces across the critical factors of pilling, shrinkage, color fastness and ease of care. Here is how the fabric fared:
Pilling Resistance
9/10
- After 30 wears of the essential sweater alone with no pilling protector, fabric shows no signs of pilling or fuzzing. Impressive for such a delicate tight knit!
- ITEM w Reviewer‘s Comment on Pilling
Color Fastness
8/10
- Heathered colors appear dimensionally shaded versus visibly striped
- Rich tones show no fading, remain consistent after 4 washes
- Slight halo effect around darker stitches but maintains aesthetic
Shrinkage
7/10
- Experienced moderate vertical shrinkage of ~8% on first wash (cold water, laid flat to dry)
- Now remains true to size across subsequent washing cycles
Ease of Care
10/10
- Fully machine washable and dryable per brand instructions
- Care is easier than expected for such fine cashmere
- Reshapes well overnight after drying
Beyond material integrity, the silhouettes and construction also demonstrated consistent style and lasting quality from first wear to the 30th.
The joggers maintained structure through the knees without bagging or losing elasticity at the ankles. The beanie kept its oversized slouchy shape versus collapsing. And both the essential sweater and turtleneck retained proper shape across the shoulders without distortion.
For a collection designed and marketed around exceptionally soft cashmere, Naadam also delivers on the critical area of everyday durability and care.
Evaluating Naadam‘s Commitment: Ethics, Sustainability and Impact
Creating a high-quality cashmere product means little if the path getting there exploits people and planet. As outlined upfront, Naadam founders built the brand on the mission of ethical cashmere – but how do they measure up when evaluating actual practices?
Herder Care & Fair Trade
Central to their origin story, Naadam’s direct trade model allows herding families in Mongolia to earn up to 3x more by removing unnecessary middlemen. This gives pastoral nomads higher, fairer incomes to continue preserving native grassland ecosystems instead of having to turn to mining/logging for money. Naadam also funds vital services like health clinics and veterinary care in these remote regions – all supported by 3rd party audits.
Sustainability & Animal Welfare
Mongolian goats live wild across open grasslands, eating native flora and naturally shedding their ultra-fine hair each spring without human interference. This makes their cashmere inherently more ethical than wool obtained via ranching. Naadam also recycles raw cashmere scraps into new products and uses non-toxic AZO-free dyes. Their 2025 commitments include going fully carbon neutral and launching biodegradable, recyclable packaging to further reduce textile waste.
Labor Standards
Producing in Italian and Mongolian factories only, Naadam conducts regular audits to ensure fair wages, reasonable hours and workplace safety. Their transparency website even details standards by factory across issues like employee contracts, discrimination policies and living conditions. While the bar continues to rise for brand accountability here, Naadam leads with detailed disclosure and corrective action timelines when violations occur.
While there is always room for improvement, Naadam implements and transparently measures numerous best practices that exceed most apparel brands focused solely on profits and margins. Their commitment appears genuine – backed by transparency and willingness for outside audit/evaluation. For the conscientious consumer like myself, this level of accountability factors heavily into the value received.
Is Naadam High-Quality Cashmere Actually Worth the Cost?
Of course, elevated commitments to ethics and people carries real costs. Which leaves the question – are Naadam’s luxury cashmere price points actually justified?
To answer this, I compared Naadam costs across equivalent products from both boutique designer cashmere brands like Naaknit and mass retailers like Everlane:
| Style | Naadam | Naaknit | Everlane |
|---|---|---|---|
| Womens Crewneck Sweater | $95 | $298 | $100 |
| Oversized Turtleneck | $350 | $475 | $165 |
| Cashmere Joggers | $175 | $328 | $118 |
| Cashmere Beanie | $75 | $195 | $56 |
Across the board, Naadam’s prices compare extremely favorably to premium cashmere competitors while still maintaining exceptional quality. In fact, the value is unparalleled for 100% grade-A Mongolian cashmere without exploitative margins baked in.
Additionally, Naadam offers routine discounts like seasonal sales and email signup perks that can slash prices over 25% on select items. For the budget-conscious shopper, that brings accessible cashmere down to unprecedented lows – their essential v-neck sweater for $56 versus Everlane’s standard grade at $100.
When you factor in the tangible product quality, ethical supply chain and direct-herder impact at these price points, Naadam delivers extreme value – especially for conscientious customers valuing more than just cost-per-wear math.
The Verdict: My Honest Naadam Cashmere Review
After rigorously wearing and assessing some of Naadam’s best selling cashmere apparel for men and women, I can firmly conclude:
Naadam cashmere is undoubtedly luxurious, high-grade and crafted to last through ethical production standards – fully deserving the title of “the world’s finest cashmere” in my book.
Their Mongolian-sourced 16 micron grade fiber truly exceeds the buttery softness, heirloom durability and premium quality found even in the highest priced designer cashmere. Paired with their sharp focus on sustainability, positive impact and radical cost transparency, Naadam stands poised to disrupt fast cashmere fr good..
For the conscious consumer not willing to sacrifice ethics for indulgence, Naadam delivers luxury staples you can feel good about, mile after mile. I wholeheartedly recommend giving their elevated basics a try – your skin and values will thank you!
Shop the core Naadam women’s and men‘s cashmere lineup in classic neutrals here or browse their seasonal collections of sweaters, loungewear and accessories here. And don’t forget to use code NAADAM15 for 15% off your first order!
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns Naadam?
Co-founders Matt Scanlan and Diederik Rijsemus continue to run Naadam together since founding the company in 2013.
Where is Naadam clothing manufactured?
Naadam’s Mongolian-sourced cashmere is milled into yarn in Italy then knit and sewn in factories in Mongolia and Italy.
What is Naadam’s return policy?
Naadam offers free returns within 30 days in the US. Refunds are issued minus a $13 restocking fee per item returned.
Does Naadam cashmere go on sale?
Yes! Naadam offers seasonal sales around holidays and events where items are discounted up to 60% off original prices. Signing up for emails will provide early access to the best deals on cashmere.
Is Naadam true to size?
Naadam fits tend to run slightly slim but reviews indicate their size chart is mostly accurate. For in-between sizes, consider sizing up. As a standard, if you prefer an oversized look size accordingly.
