Naadam Cashmere Sweater Review

The creme de la creme of my winter knitwear collection starts with a ’c’. ‘C’ for cashmere. And there are three things I tend to look for; good quality, timeless design, and a price that won’t break the bank. For the last few years, three brands have been my ‘go-to’ for the classic crew neck cashmere: Everlane, Grana, and Mott & Bow. Uniqlo is another high street option that is reasonably priced, though I do find it to be the thinnest of the bunch. So after getting numerous recommendations to try out Naadam, whose cashmere is priced at just $75 USD, I finally decided to bite the bullet. And today, I wanted to share a full Naadam cashmere sweater review.

Wearing Naadam cashmere sweater, White by FTL tank, Levis skinny jeans, Kindersalmon coat, Charlotte Olympia kitty flats, JW Anderson Logo bag, Mejuri shell necklace, Holly J pearl earrings

My style leans pretty casual these days; a far cry from the corporate-wear I was donning day in and day out a few short years ago. I’d say that it’s likely little surprise that my daily uniform often consists of a simple sweater in a neutral hue, paired with some skinny jeans in white or faded black.

QUICK FACTS

Price: $75 USD
The Naadam cashmere sweater is available in 13 colours: smoke, black, cement, dark ginger, navy, oatmeal, camel, white, olive, moss, azure, rosewood, and ochre
Made in: China
Fabric: 100% Mongolian cashmere
Care: Dry clean or hand wash cold and lay flat to dry

SIZING & FIT

Unlike other brands I’ve tried, the Naadam cashmere sweaters are a unisex style. I’m no stranger to borrowing from the boys, but I will admit that this left me initially a little stumped as to what size to purchase. Should I go with my usual size – small – or go down to an extra-small and hope for the best?

For reference, I am 172cm tall, wear a size 25 in jeans, and typically wear an XS/S or AU6-8 in most brands.

To play it safe, I decided to stick to my usual size small. I figured that this would be a nice relaxed fit on me – something I find pairs well and balances nicely when tucked into skinny jeans, or any silhouette that is more fitted on the lower half. I based this off the sizing of the female fit model on the site, as well as the measurements provided in the size guide.

You can definitely see from the photos that I got the relaxed fit I was after. The website actually recommends sizing down one or two sizes for a regular fit (for women), and I’d say that’s pretty accurate.

The one thing I think is important to flag however is the sleeve length, as this really threw me. These are ultra long; on me, they come all the way to down to the centre knuckle on my fingers, so it’s worth noting if you are on the petite end of the spectrum, you’ll need to scrunch the sleeves up a little. I personally don’t mind this, however if you are after a more fitted, streamlined look, you may want to consider other alternatives.

QUALITY

What really blew me away however, was not the fit, but the quality of the Naadam cashmere sweater. I’d heard it was soft, but I didn’t think it would be that soft. I’d say it sits up there as being one of, if not the softest cashmere sweater I own.

This is the kind of knit sweater that won’t scratch or itch, and feels ultra luxurious against your skin.

At this point I’ve worn it a bit more than a handful of times, and am yet to notice any rubbing or pilling – even when worn with a cross body – so I’m pleased with how it’s fared so far. It is worth noting that this is a normal part of the process of wearing natural wool fibres, and a cashmere comb will remove any pilled bits of fabric quite quickly.

DESIGN

The silhouette of the Naadam cashmere sweater is about as classic as it can get. Simple crew neckline, ribbing around the collar, hemline and ends of the sleeves, and a basic cut through the body.

The one special detail, which can easily go unnoticed, is a small ’N’ logo stitched onto the left sleeve.

I like that it’s fuss-free, and is the kind of wardrobe staple that would let the rest of your outfit do the talking.

FINAL THOUGHTS

What ultimately drew me to the brand – aside from so many positive testimonials – was their promise of high quality, super soft cashmere, and that a larger percentage of the profits were shared with the actual farmers, rather than a middleman. Value was being put on the material, which is the starting point for any garment (aside from the ‘blueprint’ or pattern), and in a time where we are so far removed from where these fibres come from, that really resonated with me.

Overall, I really like the sweater. The feel of the cashmere is uber soft, and the quality seems on par with other sweaters in my closet. The fabric is on the thinner end of the spectrum, however it can be easily layered if you needed to add some extra warmth (say with a long sleeved thermal underneath).

The one thing I don’t love is the unisex sizing. Shopping online is tricky enough, and I feel like this sorta threw a spanner in the works. It means it’s a bit more work to identify the correct size, and it’s not really ideal for petites. This ultimately adds extra length through the body which means additional bulk when tucking in, and I find the extra length through the sleeves has a relaxed feel, especially when scrunching them up above your wrists.

My first purchase from Naadam feels a little bit like a gateway into the brand. After browsing their latest winter knitwear restock, I’ve been feeling compelled to consider investing in other, similarly classic silhouettes.

The shipping to Australia came fairly quickly, though do note, the exchange rate is dreadful right now – so be aware of bank fees and foreign conversion rates. If you live outside the US and are only purchasing one item, make sure you carefully select the right size. After perusing the returns policy, I’ve quickly come to the conclusion that a return is just not worth it, as the total return cost – including the original shipping fee to receive the item – is almost that of the sweater itself. Essentially, you’ll get a pittance back.

Having such high expectations, I almost expected the brand to fall short, but I’ve been so thrilled with my first Naadam cashmere purchase. It’s proven to be a bit of a hidden gem, and I’m so impressed with the value given the quality. If their classic crew neck is any indicator of the quality across the board, then you’re in for a treat.

Would love to know if you have tried a Naadam cashmere sweater and your thoughts in the comments below x