Naadam vs Quince cashmere: We pitted the 2 popular brands against each other in a head-to-head competition to see which sweater is better

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Two cashmere sweaters on wooden hangers behind a text reading "Naadam vs Quince" — Gabrielle Chase/Business Insider

If you're not aware of the lore behind the direct-to-consumer cashmere industry, let me tell you — it's not all warm and fuzzy. Among the best cashmere sweaters I've tested, Naadam and Quince are both top contenders. But you've got to brace for conflict when your two favorites are in competition with each other, because all's fair in love and capitalism.

Targeted ads from Quince, with captions such as "Like Naadam, without the price tag," provoked Naadam's social media manager to clap back with a playful campaign of memes on Instagram. Quince's social media doesn't acknowledge such a thing ever took place, so the feud ended with barely a wisp of smoke.

Well, I'm here to resolve this by comparing two of their best-sellers. May the best sweater win, I say.

Two side by side images of the author holding the collars of cashmere sweaters. — Gabrielle Chase/Business Insider

In one corner we have Quince, a San Francisco-based direct-to-consumer apparel and home goods company best known for offering luxury fabrics at competitive prices. Its affordable cashmere collection also includes skirts, dresses, sweatpants, and cozy beanies.

Over on the East Coast we have Naadam, aka "the world's fairest cashmere," whose original claim to fame was the $75 Cashmere sweater (raised to $98 in about October of last year). Cashmere is Naadam's primary specialty, and they offer different tiers that go from premium to luxe.

It took a few days of consistent wear and a close inspection of their materials to determine Naadam the winner. The difference in quality is barely noticeable, but Quince's sweater didn't have quite the same brushed softness.

Quince's Mongolian Cashmere Crewneck

The author wearing a black Quince cashmere sweater. — Quince's $50 Cashmere Crewneck is undeniably high-quality, but it's slightly thinner than Naadam's.
Gabrielle Chase/Business Insider

The super soft Quince Mongolian Cashmere Crewneck Sweater feels more expensive than it is, and it's obvious why it's such a hit. Still, I could feel that it's slightly thinner than Naadam's.

Of course, the price tag on Quince's 100% Grade-A Mongolian cashmere is attractive when you see practically identical these sweaters are. The patterns are the exact same (unless I'm really nitpicking — Quince's neckline is bound with a seam that looks slightly more unfinished and liable to fray). But the quality is there and consistent with other pieces I tried for our Quince cashmere review.

Naadam's Original Cashmere Sweater

The author wearing a navy cashmere sweater from Naadam. — Naadam's Original Cashmere Sweater is my favorite of the two, and it's still under $100.
Gabrielle Chase/Business Insider

I found Naadam's Original Cashmere Sweater to be a tiny bit thicker, especially around the collar. It's also slightly softer, yet still just as lightweight as the Quince version. Naadam also has a leg up with more inclusive sizing and color variety. Plus, you can get it monogrammed for an additional $20.

An up close look at the stitching and interior of two cashmere sweaters. — A close-up look at the stitching and inner seams of both sweaters.
Gabrielle Chase/Business Insider

The only difference in construction from Quince's sweater is Naadam's seamless collar that's slightly thicker. They use the exact same knit pattern inside and out. Both size small cashmere sweaters fit my 5-foot-9 frame true to size and pilled after a few days of consistent wear.

Which brand is more sustainable?

It's practically impossible for me to suss out who's out-greenwashing who here because I live at the end of the supply chain where those details are obscured. However, if you look at the general transparency between Naadam and Quince, Naadam is more forthright about its manufacturing process. They also have a higher score from Good On You's rating system. So I'm inclined to believe that one reason for their higher prices is that Naadam is more diligent about backing up their claims on ethical and sustainable cashmere.

The bottom line

I'm unsurprised that Naadam's more expensive sweater is better, but honestly, there's not much of a difference in quality between the two. I recommend Naadam first because they've got the superior product, they're more experienced in cashmere production, and they're more upfront about their supply chain.