Capt'n John brings us the seventh most expensive fabric, Cashmere. We're probably all familiar with cashmere sweaters, but do you know where it comes from?

Here is why Cashmere is the #7 Most Expensive Fabric:

"Cashmere is a finite resource and only a certain amount is produced in the world. A cashmere goat can only produce about 200-300 grams of cashmere a year.  It is collected during the natural moulting season, springtime.  To make a coat you'd need 3 to 4 coats.

Cashmere goats are named after the Kashmir regions of India and Pakistan. There’s no such thing as a “purebred” cashmere goat. A cashmere goat is not a separate breed of a goat at all but any goat whose soft, downy winter undercoat can be harvested for cashmere fibers. Consequently, these goats can look very different from one another. Undercoat colors include black, white, grey, and brown. Their coats are naturally shed each spring, which is when the fleece is harvested.

There are an estimated 700 million cashmere-producing goats throughout the world, including the white Australian Cashmere goat, the Pashmina goat of southeast Asia and the Himalayan foothills, the white Hexi Cashmere goat of the Gobi Desert, and the Alasan (Alashanzuoqi), Arbus, Erlangshan, Hanshan and Wuzhumuqin strains from Mongolia. China produces 60 percent of the cashmere used by the world’s fashion industries.

Cashmere fabric is incredibly soft and warm, making it perfect for cold weather clothing items like sweaters, scarves, and hats. However, the luxurious feel of cashmere comes at a cost. Cashmere fabric can cost anywhere from $50 to $200 per yard, depending on the quality of the fabric.

Here are some fun facts about cashmere fabric:

- Cashmere is eight times warmer than sheep's wool.

- Cashmere goats are bred for their fleece, not their meat.

- The average natural lifespan of a cashmere goat is 15 years.

- Cashmere fabric is biodegradable and eco-friendly.

As with all uses of animals, it is important to make sure you are buying from a source that treats the animals ethically."

Stay tuned and come back next week to find out what the #6 Most Expensive Fabric is.

Below is an Australian Cashmere Goat, the fiber of which is used to make the seventh most expensive fabric in the world.

Below is a Black Cashmere Goat Doe, the fiber of which is also used to make the seventh most expensive fabric in the world.

Here is an example of a Valentina Cashmere Cardigan that is made from cashmere, priced at $375.