11 November 2006

1% cashmere is not cashmere

I'm skimming through Sierra Trading Post's online catalog for gift ideas, and I come across a "moon wool cashmere windowpane throw". I was vaguely contemplating getting my parents some sort of cashmere throw, so I click on the description.

The description reads, "Windowpane
throw blanket from Moon is made in England with the finest wool and cashmere. Chilly mornings are best enjoyed wrapped in the soft luxury of a warm wool throw, coffee in hand."
So far, so promising.

Then I scroll further to look at the fabric contents, and it's 99% wool and 1% cashmere.

Why bother listing something that is 1% cashmere as a "cashmere throw"? I mean, I don't call my 98% cotton/2% spandex buttondown top a spandex top, even though it has twice as much spandex as this throw has cashmere.

It's like a certain cereal company that calls its cereal "honey'd" raisin bran, even though honey is listed lower than salt as an ingredient.

Is it too much to ask for more reasonable labeling guidelines? Such as not calling something "honey'd" this-or-that if it contains less than a teaspoon of honey in an entire box of cereal, or not calling something a "wool/cashmere throw" if it contains only 1% cashmere?