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Walmart is getting into the cashmere game with a new $45 sweater that shoppers are stocking up on.

The cashmere crewneck sweater can be found as part of the retailer’s in-house Free Assembly brand, which is known for its elevated basics and trend-forward pieces for men and women. While the brand originally launched in 2020, it’s now under the direction of celebrity stylist-turned-fashion designer Brandon Maxwell, who is also the creative director of Walmart’s private-label womenswear brand, Scoop.

Maxwell was best known for working with Lady Gaga, and has worked to bring a similar elevated and contemporary sensibility to Walmart’s fashion lines. Still, while Gaga was known for her over-the-top style, this Free Assembly cashmere sweater is decidedly more toned down.

The sweater features a trim fit with ribbed hem and cuffs, plus a structured neckline. This is actually a 98 percent cashmere sweater — with the other two percent comprising spandex and other fibers.

In a product description, Walmart calls this the “ultimate everyday luxury for less,” adding that the sweater offers a “look that’s effortlessly chic and laid-back.”

Reviewers, meantime, are raving about the sweater, with one verified shopper writing that, “This cashmere sweater is unbelievably soft, beautifully made and feels every bit as luxurious as sweaters I’ve purchased from high-end brands costing several times more. It looks incredibly elegant.”

Walmart says the sweater is made from 100% cashmere sourced directly from “inner Mongolian herders.” The sweater is also certified by The Good Cashmere Standard (GCS), which is an industry benchmark for ethical and responsible cashmere production, with a focus on animal welfare and environmental production.

Almost 90% of reviewers give this sweater a full five-star rating. One verified shopper says it’s a “Great product for the price,” while another boasts that “the quality is also amazing.” I’ve personally bought the sweater in the “castle gray” colorway (as seen above) and in a “sandstone,” camel-like shade.

Walmart is the latest retailer to introduce an affordable cashmere sweater to the market, following the lead of brands like Quince and Uniqlo.

Quince says this sweater is made from 100% Grade-A Mongolian cashmere and produced in BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative) certified factories, which offer fair wages and transparency on working conditions throughout the supply chain. And while you can pick it up online right now for 50 bucks, Quince says a similar piece would cost $148 at “traditional retail.”

Choose from eight colors online and women’s sizes XS to XL. You can also pick up a men’s cashmere sweater for $59 at Quince.com.

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Meet the Author

Tim Chan is the VP of Commerce at Penske Media, overseeing fashion, lifestyle and streaming coverage across marquee brands like Rolling Stone, Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, and WWD, among others. Previously, Chan was the first-ever Lifestyle Editor at Rolling Stone, covering all things fashion, culture, and travel through an entertainment lens. In addition to PMC, his bylines over the years have appeared in L’Uomo Vogue, Vogue Italia, Vogue Korea, i-D, and more. Chan has also consulted for a number of fashion brands, advising them on media and marketing strategy. He graduated from Columbia University with a master’s degree in journalism. Chan favors a cashmere sweater for almost every occasion and look, from a put-together work outfit to a layering piece for colder temps.