Cashmere Sweaters

[ishakir]

Hey guys,

I wanted to see if anyone had any recommendations for a high quality cashmere sweater. I've purchased sweaters from JCrew and Brooks Brothers and they don't seem to last as long as I would like. I have always heard that a quality cashmere sweater should last you for most of your life without pilling or looking like garbage after a season's wear. Is this untrue?

Thanks!

 

[bensm1th]

Hey guys,

I wanted to see if anyone had any recommendations for a high quality cashmere sweater. I've purchased sweaters from JCrew and Brooks Brothers and they don't seem to last as long as I would like. I have always heard that a quality cashmere sweater should last you for most of your life without pilling or looking like garbage after a season's wear. Is this untrue?

Thanks!

I'm looking for the same thing. I think a lot has to do with how you take care of it. I'm looking into Ralph Lauren Purple Label, but the price is out of my league right now. I'm wondering if there is something comparable to the Purple Label that costs less.

 

[dieworkwear]

William Lockie makes some really nice ones. If you're looking for that old Scottish cashmere quality, you need to find something that's densely knit and not overly milled (i.e. washed). Those kinds of sweaters won't have that cloud-softness at first, but they're sturdier. The softness also comes over time like a pair of raw denim jeans.

 

[weissmenswear]

Hey guys,

I wanted to see if anyone had any recommendations for a high quality cashmere sweater. I've purchased sweaters from JCrew and Brooks Brothers and they don't seem to last as long as I would like. I have always heard that a quality cashmere sweater should last you for most of your life without pilling or looking like garbage after a season's wear. Is this untrue?

Thanks!

I particularly like Johnston’s of Elgin. In my experience they offer one of the the best overall values (highest quality, mid-tier price). They’re still like $300-$400 sweaters, but the quality is just superb.

If you know your size and are patient, you can often find a few pop up on eBay for much less. I’ve done this with at least two of the JoE sweaters I own.

 

[Johnny80]

I'm looking for the same thing. I think a lot has to do with how you take care of it. I'm looking into Ralph Lauren Purple Label, but the price is out of my league right now. I'm wondering if there is something comparable to the Purple Label that costs less.

Like weissmenswear pointed out...Johnstons of Elgin has very good quality cashmere for under €500

 

[Duke Santos]

William Lockie makes some really nice ones. If you're looking for that old Scottish cashmere quality, you need to find something that's densely knit and not overly milled (i.e. washed). Those kinds of sweaters won't have that cloud-softness at first, but they're sturdier. The softness also comes over time like a pair of raw denim jeans.

Correct me if I"m wrong, but my understanding is that cashmere that--from the get go--is ridiculously butter soft is usually a lower quality that's been treated with something to make it that soft. Ans as you mention, top quality cashmere, though nowhere near as barbed as something like Shetland, needs to break in a bit to get an authentic and durable softness.

 

[dieworkwear]

Correct me if I"m wrong, but my understanding is that cashmere that--from the get go--is ridiculously butter soft is usually a lower quality that's been treated with something to make it that soft. Ans as you mention, top quality cashmere, though nowhere near as barbed as something like Shetland, needs to break in a bit to get an authentic and durable softness.

I don't think it's always the case that soft cashmere is low quality.

Softness often comes from the milling process

 

[Johnny80]

Correct me if I"m wrong, but my understanding is that cashmere that--from the get go--is ridiculously butter soft is usually a lower quality that's been treated with something to make it that soft. Ans as you mention, top quality cashmere, though nowhere near as barbed as something like Shetland, needs to break in a bit to get an authentic and durable softness.

Not entirely true, depends on the manufacturer. For example you always get soft cashmere from Colombos kid cashmere or Loro Pianas baby cashmere because you are under 14 microns...Also, you Colombo has 12.8 microns kidwool...that doesnt means they are inferior quality...for example 12.9 kidwool feels very soft..
Again, gobi cashmere is an inferior quality, pre-washed feeling soft
But on the other hand, almost no one can argue or come close to the 1ply-kid cashmere Colombo for its softness/density/quality/shape. In general i always advice to take 2ply cashmere..but in this case, if you want an 1ply-cashmere to layer it up like a shirt..you can do it without losing quality of the yarn

 

[Johnny80]

Also, Colombo has Cashmere 4.0 that is worsted cashmere, that feels very soft and very very light (like a second skin, around 150g fabric weight)
Based on the latest years, i feel Colombo and Fioroni are the best what Italy can provide
Brunello is ok too but they dont offer pure cashmere and/or cashmere 4.0, they only offer cashmere under 15microns
Loro Piana its ok if you dont care about shape