Most knitwear failures (stretched shoulders, pilled surfaces, shrunk pieces) are care problems, not quality problems. Five minutes of correct technique doubles the lifespan of any cashmere or wool jumper.
The care basics that matter
Hand-wash or wool cycle, cool water. Mild wool detergent (The Laundress, Eucalan). Press water out — never wring. Reshape and dry flat on a towel. Never tumble dry. Store folded, not hung (hanging stretches shoulders).
The annual maintenance that matters
Pill removal once or twice a season (battery-powered fabric shaver, £15). Moth protection in summer storage (cedar blocks, lavender bags). Spot-cleaning small stains immediately.
Cheap knitwear treated well outlasts expensive knitwear treated badly. The care, not the price, determines real lifespan.