Artisan Crafted
Cashmere Sweaters

The Origin

The exceptional cashmere we use for these sweaters originates in the mountainous landscape of inner Mongolia. This is a land frozen in time, and for parts of the year, largely frozen, with near-Arctic conditions during the long winters. In this mystical habitat, temperatures fluctuate dramatically between day and night, and season to season. Embodying the wisdom and experience of generations, a select group of shepherds here watches over flocks of Capra hircus goats, resilient animals at home in this harsh environment.

Cashmere is to wool as diamonds
are to gemstones—forged in extremity
for an unrivaled expression.

Nature has bestowed these tranquil goats with a special undercoat to combat the unforgiving climate. Composed of exceptionally fine fibers, this pure white fleece naturally regulates body temperature and provides the animals with enveloping warmth. Cashmere is to wool as diamonds are to gemstones—forged in extremity for an unrivaled expression.

When the weather warms and the goats begin to shed their coarser outer coats, the shepherds gently procure the extra-long staple fibers from the undercoat using a special combing process. The outer fibers are sorted until only the most optimal fleece remains. The incredibly fine fibers selected to craft our sweaters measure 15 microns in diameter, about five times finer than an average human hair. In total, the annual fleece of at least three goats is required to produce enough yarn for one of our sweaters.

The Journey

The fibers are compiled in large bales and travel around 5,000 miles to northwest Italy. We are now in the Piedmont region, home to some of Italy’s finest red wines, world-renowned white truffles, picturesque villages and emerald lakes. The bales arrive in a quiet town nestled in the foothills of the Alps, where clay-roofed buildings populate the banks of the river Sesia. We partner with a sixth-generation mill headquartered in this idyllic setting who have mastered the art of turning cashmere fleece into yarn.

Their team rigorously sorts the raw fibers, and, using pure white yarns, meticulously dyes them in their custom color laboratories. The sweaters owe much of their intricate visual expression to these remarkably rich heathered hues. The fibers are then spun into luxurious yarns on their bespoke machines, and spiraled into cones to continue their journey.

We’ve worked with the same partner who leads an artisan workshop here for nearly 20 years.

Amid the cloudy skies and bustling streets of North London, a stone’s throw from the expansive stadium of Arsenal Football Club, the cashmere is prepped for the final stages. We’ve worked with the same partner who leads an artisan workshop here for nearly 20 years. On the knitting bed, we incorporate a signature touch, periodically passing performance yarn through the cashmere to bolster shape retention and add four-way stretch. This subtle innovation makes this sweater as functional as it is beautiful.

After the front, back and arm panels are knitted, they are stitched together in the same workshop during an intensely involved process known as linking. Skilled artisans carefully align the seams and follow them by hand as the sweater takes its final form, aided by an instrument that utilizes thousands of needles.

Finishing Touches

The finishing wash is an essential step in elevating these special pieces. Our partners in London have perfected this process by precisely mimicking the composition of the water supply in Yorkshire, the historic center of England’s finest textiles. Among its many beneficial qualities, this specific water is free of minerals. The water brings these exceptional sweaters to life, unlocking the fantastically soft character that defines them.

From gathering the raw fibers to the cast of the final needle and the final wash, the ingredients that make up our Artisan Crafted Cashmere Flex sweaters traverse multiple continents and pass through the hands of some of the world’s most gifted artisans. The excellence that we see in their practice inspires our own devotion to continue the global endeavor of crafting these one-of-a-kind sweaters. They’re a part of who we are.