Cashmere Sweaters
- Thread starter Mr. Lee
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Drusilla_
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I have an olive green men's jumper from Malo, it was purchased secondhand but still good quality (no pilling even after a fair amount of wear by me).
I've seen recommendations on men's fashion forums and sites for Scottish cashmere (William Lockie and brands that actually manufacture in Scotland) over Italian brands though, particularly for durability/long-term structural integrity (ie your sweater won't go out of shape easily) because Scottish cashmere tends to have a tighter weave. The Italian brands like Brunello Cucinelli, Cruciani etc have a wider range of designs though, also a lot of the Scottish mills like Hawick of Scotland or Elgin, have sadly closed operations. Vintage Scottish cashmere sweaters may be a good bet though, I've heard those hold up really well. Also Inis Meáin, they're Irish and specialise in knitwear.
I think the main issue is that cashmere is being sold at so many price points these days, and the quality of the raw material itself is declining thanks to changes in the weather of cashmere goats' habitat - it might be better to buy a really good lambswool sweater over a cheap cashmere one. Alpaca and vicuña too.
I've seen recommendations on men's fashion forums and sites for Scottish cashmere (William Lockie and brands that actually manufacture in Scotland) over Italian brands though, particularly for durability/long-term structural integrity (ie your sweater won't go out of shape easily) because Scottish cashmere tends to have a tighter weave. The Italian brands like Brunello Cucinelli, Cruciani etc have a wider range of designs though, also a lot of the Scottish mills like Hawick of Scotland or Elgin, have sadly closed operations. Vintage Scottish cashmere sweaters may be a good bet though, I've heard those hold up really well. Also Inis Meáin, they're Irish and specialise in knitwear.
I think the main issue is that cashmere is being sold at so many price points these days, and the quality of the raw material itself is declining thanks to changes in the weather of cashmere goats' habitat - it might be better to buy a really good lambswool sweater over a cheap cashmere one. Alpaca and vicuña too.
fashionista-ta
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^ I have a fair number of Brunello Cucinelli cashmere sweaters, and they pill. I'm not sure this is an indicator of quality so much as texture ... very soft sweaters seem to pill, though I am jealous of those who say it doesn't happen for them 
My dry cleaner takes care of it, and I am just about to order a sweater rake that I've been assured is appropriate for cashmere.
From a comfort standpoint, they're the best I've had. I have not tried Loro Piana. I don't pay full price for the cashmere (I usually end up paying full price for summer weight linen/silk as I know they will sell out); I get them either from Yoox (where you need knowledge of retail pricing so you don't get taken for a ride), or on sale from BC's own website. There's an outlet in the East Bay (SF) that I haven't gotten to yet.
I just read that cashmere has 100x the environmental impact of wool. I plan to stop by the BC boutique and ask them about their sustainability practices. Obviously, the goats live to tell the tale, which makes it far better than shearling, etc. It's also intended to last a lifetime, and I do keep my sweaters and wear them for as long as I can. I have not worn any out or had to discard any. I am assuming they must cultivate their own supply chain, vs. buying the best available on the open market, which I would find too risky--so I assume they do too. But I plan to learn more.
My skin is so sensitive that wool is difficult for me to wear. I do have a few things, including BC wool that's pretty good--but not as good as the cashmere. I also have a Lanvin cotton/wool blend that's very comfortable. For sure I do not believe in cheap cashmere, though (before reading this 100x article) I bought an Everlane sweater in the $200 range that feels pretty good on. Given the impact, though, I think it makes sense to buy the best I can afford if I'm going to buy cashmere at all. (I bought it for the beautiful purple color I didn't think I would find again--and so far haven't.)
My dry cleaner takes care of it, and I am just about to order a sweater rake that I've been assured is appropriate for cashmere. From a comfort standpoint, they're the best I've had. I have not tried Loro Piana. I don't pay full price for the cashmere (I usually end up paying full price for summer weight linen/silk as I know they will sell out); I get them either from Yoox (where you need knowledge of retail pricing so you don't get taken for a ride), or on sale from BC's own website. There's an outlet in the East Bay (SF) that I haven't gotten to yet.
I just read that cashmere has 100x the environmental impact of wool. I plan to stop by the BC boutique and ask them about their sustainability practices. Obviously, the goats live to tell the tale, which makes it far better than shearling, etc. It's also intended to last a lifetime, and I do keep my sweaters and wear them for as long as I can. I have not worn any out or had to discard any. I am assuming they must cultivate their own supply chain, vs. buying the best available on the open market, which I would find too risky--so I assume they do too. But I plan to learn more.
My skin is so sensitive that wool is difficult for me to wear. I do have a few things, including BC wool that's pretty good--but not as good as the cashmere. I also have a Lanvin cotton/wool blend that's very comfortable. For sure I do not believe in cheap cashmere, though (before reading this 100x article) I bought an Everlane sweater in the $200 range that feels pretty good on. Given the impact, though, I think it makes sense to buy the best I can afford if I'm going to buy cashmere at all. (I bought it for the beautiful purple color I didn't think I would find again--and so far haven't.)
ediesedgwick
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I’m a woman but I love Equipment because they had made tunic length sweaters in solid, basic colors. I watched them on Nordstrom’s website for a few seasons and they finally got marked down to half off. I wore them for years, they are such high quality. I love cashmere in plain solid crew necks like navy, tan, and grey.
Drusilla_
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Just won an apple-green cashmere cardigan from Cash Ca in an ebay auction yesterday (25 quid), I'm excited to check it out. I basically live in my big navy cashmere cardie during winter but this is a little more cropped and close-fitted, plus I like the idea of a brighter colour and the buttons look really nice.
