Cashmere V-Neck Cardigan Wholesale: B2B Gauge & Yarn Count Buying Guide

The V-neck cardigan is the most-requested cashmere knitwear construction at our Ordos facility. It is also the most-variable in spec: V-depth, placket width, button count, button material, and gauge can all shift the final product from a $140 retail casual layer to a $340 retail refined staple. For B2B buyers, getting these specs right at the sample stage is the difference between a successful program and a re-order disaster.

This guide walks through the gauge, yarn count, placket, and finishing decisions that determine whether a cashmere V-neck cardigan program succeeds at your retail tier.

Cashmere V-Neck Cardigan Standard Specs

Specification	Standard Refined	Chunky Premium	Heavy Gauge
Fiber	Grade A 14.5–15.5μm	Grade A 14.5–15.5μm	Grade A 14.5–15.5μm
Yarn	2/48 Nm worsted-spun	2/26 Nm woolen-spun	2/16 Nm woolen-spun
Gauge	12gg	7gg	5gg
Weight	280–340g	380–480g	480–620g
V-depth	18–22cm	20–24cm	22–26cm
Placket width	2.5cm	3cm	3.5cm
Buttons	5 buttons, 14 Ligne horn	5 buttons, 14 Ligne horn	5 buttons, 16 Ligne horn
Wholesale FOB Tianjin	$32–42 / piece	$36–48 / piece	$40–54 / piece
Retail markup	5–7x	5–7x	4–6x
Retail price range	$180–280	$200–340	$220–380
MOQ	100 pcs	100 pcs	100 pcs

The three tiers correspond to three retail audiences: refined (office-wear, smart-casual, gift sets), chunky premium (boutique casual, layering programs), and heavy gauge (high-end outerwear-replacement programs).

Choosing the Right Gauge for Your Retail Tier

5gg heavy gauge: 480–620g cardigan weight. Visibly chunky knit, drapes heavily, reads as outerwear. The right choice for FW 2026 luxury programs where the cardigan replaces a jacket. Most expensive in fiber cost.

7gg chunky: 380–480g cardigan weight. Visible knit texture, premium casual aesthetic. The standard for boutique cashmere cardigan programs.

12gg refined: 280–340g cardigan weight. Smooth surface, refined drape, office-appropriate. The most-requested gauge for B2B programs — works under a jacket or alone.

14gg fine-gauge: 220–280g cardigan weight. Smooth drape, dressier aesthetic. Common for office-wear programs where the cardigan substitutes for a sweater vest.

For FW 2026, the 12gg refined tier is the most-requested at our facility. The 7gg chunky tier is the fastest-growing segment, driven by the layering-trend.

V-Depth and Placket Construction

V-depth (the distance from the shoulder seam to the V point):

• 18cm: modest, office-appropriate, layers well over a collared shirt
• 20cm: standard, suits most retail programs
• 22cm: deeper, more fashion-forward, suits smart-casual retail
• 24cm+: very deep, statement piece, suits editorial retail

Placket width (the reinforced front band on each side of the V):

• 2.5cm: refined, suits 12gg cardigans
• 3cm: standard, suits 7gg chunky
• 3.5cm: chunky, suits 5gg heavy gauge

Button count and spacing: 5 buttons is standard for cashmere cardigans (V-depth 20–22cm). 6 buttons for deeper V (22–26cm). 4 buttons for shorter V (16–18cm). Button spacing should be 9–10cm for refined, 10–11cm for chunky.

Rib trim: the V-neck rib trim is the most visible detail. Specify rib width (2–2.5cm standard), rib gauge (matching body gauge), and rib fold behavior (lay-flat or fold-over).

Customization Options for Private Label

• Woven label at center-back neck, MOQ 100 pieces
• Custom Pantone from 5 kg per color, 7–10 day lab dip
• Custom button material — horn, mother-of-pearl, corozo, branded metal, MOQ 100 pieces
• Custom V-depth — 18cm, 20cm, 22cm, 24cm, MOQ 100 pieces
• Pocket options — patch pockets, side-seam welt pockets, none, $0.80–1.80 per pocket
• Branded care label and hangtag, MOQ 100 pieces
• Custom packaging — branded polybag, tissue, rigid box, MOQ 100 pieces

MOQ and Lead Time

Order size	Production lead time
100–500 pcs	30–35 days
500–2,000 pcs	35–45 days
2,000+ pcs	45–55 days
Custom Pantone (5+ kg per color)	+7–10 days lab dip
Custom buttons	+5–10 days
Branded packaging	+5–7 days
Sample timeline	7–10 days, USD 35–80 per piece, refundable

Common Mistakes B2B Buyers Make

Mistake 1: Specifying a 14gg cardigan with 5 buttons. The placket looks disproportionate to the gauge. Match the placket width and button size to the gauge tier.

Mistake 2: Skipping the rib-trim specification. Cashmere rib trim stretches differently from the body knit. Specify rib width, gauge, and recovery target explicitly.

Mistake 3: Underestimating the placket yarn consumption. The placket, button band, and rib trim together add 30–45g of yarn per cardigan versus a pullover. Budget this for both cost and lead-time.

Mistake 4: Ordering plastic buttons on a $250+ retail cardigan. Button material is a visible brand-quality signal. Horn or mother-of-pearl matches cashmere; plastic breaks the brand promise.

Mistake 5: Forgetting to specify rib stretch target. Cardigan rib trim should recover to 90%+ of original length after 30 minutes. Specify this in the bulk contract to avoid stretch-out complaints.

Sustainability and Origin

All cashmere for our V-neck cardigan program is sourced from the Alashan and Ordos goat herds, dehairing April–June each year. SFA certification is available for buyers requiring herder-welfare documentation.

OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification is included by default for all garments.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the typical MOQ for a cashmere V-neck cardigan?

MOQ is 100 pieces per design in stock colors. Custom Pantone from 5 kg per color. Custom button options from 100 pieces.

What gauge is most popular for FW 2026?

12gg refined tier is the most-requested for office-wear and gift-set programs. 7gg chunky is the fastest-growing segment for layering and casual retail.

Can I get a sample cardigan before placing the bulk order?

Yes. Sample lead time is 7–10 days. Sample cost USD 35–80 per piece, refundable against bulk order.

Can I add pockets to the same cardigan program?

Yes. Patch pockets or side-seam welt pockets are available. MOQ 100 pieces. $0.80–1.80 per pocket.

What is the lead time for a 500-piece custom Pantone order?

Approximately 50–60 days total: 7–10 days lab dip, 30–35 days bulk production, 3–5 days QC, plus 20–35 days sea freight.

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Browse our Wholesale Cashmere V-Neck Thick Cardigan collection for current FW 2026 designs, or pair with our Cashmere Crew Neck Sweater for layering sets.