There’s something special about unpacking a new cashmere sweater. The softness, the texture, the feeling of a piece you can return to season after season.

But sometimes, after being folded for storage or traveling in a parcel, your cashmere may arrive with a few visible creases. It’s a common part of garment handling, and it doesn’t necessarily mean anything is wrong with your piece.

The good news? With a little patience and the right care, most light wrinkles can be smoothed out without compromising the softness and natural texture of cashmere.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to remove wrinkles from cashmere, what to avoid, and how to keep your favorite pieces looking their best.

Why Does Cashmere Get Wrinkled?

Cashmere is prized for its fine, soft natural fibers. Like other natural-fiber knitwear, it can develop creases when folded, packed, or stored for an extended period.

You may notice wrinkles when:

• Your order arrives: Garments are folded and packed for shipping, and creases can form during transit.

• Your sweater has been stored: Keeping knitwear folded in the same position for a long time can leave visible lines.

• Your garment has been packed for travel: Limited space in a suitcase can create temporary folds.

These creases are often a normal result of handling. Before reaching for an iron or trying to stretch the fabric smooth, start with the gentlest approach.

1. Let Your Cashmere Rest After Unpacking

If your cashmere sweater has just arrived, give it a little time before deciding it needs extra care.

Unfold the garment carefully and lay it flat on a clean, dry surface. Gently smooth the fabric with your hands, following the natural shape of the sweater. Leave it in a well-ventilated room for a few hours.

Some lighter creases may relax on their own as the garment rests.

Avoid pulling at the fabric or stretching the sleeves, shoulders, or hem to force the wrinkles out. Cashmere knitwear can lose its shape when handled too firmly.

Our tip: If the creases are still visible after resting, gentle steaming is usually the next best step.

2. Use a Garment Steamer for Stubborn Creases

A garment steamer is one of the easiest ways to refresh wrinkled cashmere. Gentle steam can help relax creases while preserving the fabric’s soft, natural texture.

Here’s how to do it carefully:

Step 1: Check the care label.

Before applying steam, make sure the garment’s care instructions allow it.

Step 2: Prepare your steamer.

Fill the steamer with clean water and allow it to reach the appropriate temperature. Use a gentle setting suitable for delicate knitwear, if available.

Step 3: Steam with care.

Hang the dry garment on a suitable support, or follow your steamer’s instructions for steaming flat. Keep the steamer head at the distance recommended by the manufacturer, and move it slowly over the wrinkled areas. Avoid pressing the steamer head directly against the cashmere unless the garment and appliance instructions specifically allow it.

Step 4: Let the fabric settle.

Allow the garment to dry completely and cool before wearing or storing it. Gently reshape it if needed.

For deep creases, a second light pass may be preferable to prolonged exposure to heat and moisture.

Remember: Cashmere needs a gentle touch. The aim is to relax the creases, not flatten the natural texture of the knit.

3. What If You Don’t Have a Steamer?

You don’t necessarily need a special appliance to care for your cashmere.

For light wrinkles, try letting your sweater rest flat in a well-ventilated room first. You can also hang it in a bathroom while taking a warm shower, keeping it away from direct water and excessive humidity.

The ambient moisture may help soften minor creases, although this method is less reliable than steaming.

Afterward, let the garment air out and dry fully. Avoid placing it directly beside a radiator, heater, or other heat source.

If the wrinkles remain, consider using a suitable garment steamer rather than experimenting with direct heat.

4. Can You Iron a Cashmere Sweater?

Whenever possible, choose steaming over direct ironing for knitted cashmere.

The pressure and direct heat of an iron can flatten the natural surface of the fibers, leave a shiny appearance, or damage delicate yarns if the temperature is too high.

If the care label permits ironing and you have no suitable steamer, take extra precautions:

• Turn the garment inside out.

• Use the lowest appropriate temperature setting.

• Place a clean, pressing cloth between the iron and the garment.

• Avoid heavy pressure and never leave the iron in one spot.

• Do not use steam or moisture unless the care instructions permit it.

For delicate, loosely knitted, or embellished pieces, professional garment care may be the safer choice.

When in doubt, follow the care label and avoid direct ironing.

5. What to Avoid When Removing Cashmere Wrinkles

A few common shortcuts can do more harm than good. Keep these precautions in mind:

Don't pull or stretch the knit. Forcing a crease out can distort the garment's original shape.

Don't apply excessive heat. High temperatures can damage delicate fibers, affect the finish, or cause shrinkage.

Don't press hard with an iron. Heavy pressure can flatten the soft surface of the knit.

Don't tumble-dry to remove wrinkles. Unless the garment's care label specifically permits machine drying, keep cashmere away from the dryer.

Don't store it while damp. Always allow the garment to dry completely before folding it away.

Gentle care is often more effective than trying to fix wrinkles quickly.

6. How to Prevent Wrinkles When Storing Cashmere

A few simple habits can help keep your cashmere looking smooth between wears.

Fold rather than hang.

For most cashmere sweaters and other knitted pieces, folding is preferable to hanging. Hangers can gradually stretch the shoulders and distort the garment's shape.

Choose a clean, dry storage space.

Keep your knitwear in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and excessive heat.

Avoid overly tight folds.

Fold your garment neatly without pressing it into a compact bundle. If possible, vary the fold lines occasionally, especially when storing pieces for a long period.

Give your cashmere room to breathe.

Avoid overcrowding drawers or shelves. Too much pressure from other garments can contribute to creasing.

Refresh before wearing.

After taking a sweater out of storage, unfold it, gently smooth the fabric, and allow it to rest. Use light steaming if necessary and permitted by the care label.

A Little Care Goes a Long Way

Cashmere is made to be worn, enjoyed, and returned to year after year. A few creases from shipping or storage are usually nothing to worry about.

Start by allowing your garment to rest. If needed, use gentle steam, give the fabric time to settle, and always follow its specific care instructions.

With a little attention, your CAKO cashmere can retain the softness, shape, and understated elegance that make it such a pleasure to wear.

Care gently. Wear often. Keep your favorites close.