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ACCESSORIES ACCESSORIES 08 09 more cashmere GET THE LATEST PRODUCTS ON PAGE 57 PHOTOGRAPHY: LUKE KIRWAN, PROP DESIGN: NICK WOOD N ow that the nights are drawing in and our winter wardrobes are well and truly in action, thoughts turn to staying both warm and stylish. Glance at the autumn/winter catwalks for inspiration and you’ll spot one common theme – cashmere. Super-soft, gossamer light and ultra-luxurious, it is the fabric of choice for the world’s leading designers. Cashmere is sourced from the soft under-fleece of cashmere goats that live in the high plateaux of the Himalayas, China and Mongolia. The high altitudes and cold conditions is said to result in extra-fluffy coats on the animals, with the best quality cashmere sourced from wild or humanely- farmed free-range goats. “Most of our supplies originate in Nepal or the Inner Mongolian region of China,” says Kevin Galbraith, Sales Director at Morgan & Oates, specialist in cashmere scarves. “It has the finest micron diameter of any ‘wool’ and is therefore the softest and most luxurious material available.” ANGELINA VILLA- CLARKE REVEALS THE SECRETS OF CREATING GORGEOUSLY COSY CASHMERE CLOTHES, AND WHY WE SHOULD ALL BE INDULGING OURSELVES IN IT THIS WINTER “We source all our cashmere from Mongolia,” says Lilian Bucke, Head of Buying at Jaeger. “It is the premium source of quality cashmere in the world. After all, we want to ensure that we use the finest, long fibre yarns in our British-designed garments, such as Jaeger knitwear or our cashmere slippers. It’s what we are known for. ” The fine fibres, which make the best cashmere, are still harvested by hand. Nomadic herdsmen extract it with a comb during the shedding season each spring. Because of its rarity – it takes a whole year for one goat to produce enough cashmere for a scarf – and inaccessibility, the fine wool is one of the most expensive, highly coveted materials in the world. The fibres are later spun, often in Scotland, ready to be woven or knitted into top-end cashmere garments. According to a spokesperson for the Scottish Cashmere Club, which was formed in 1998 to protect the heritage and craftsmanship of Scottish cashmere, weaving of the luxury material began in the country way back in 1797, while labels such as Hermès and Chanel still use Scottish weavers to produce their raw material. It is said that cashmere producers chose Scotland as the place to spin the yarn due to the soft water found in local rivers, which they realised were crucial to the ‘handle’ of the finished product. During the decades that followed, cashmere knitwear with the label ‘Made in Scotland’ grew in repute. Today the luxury and exclusivity of Scottish cashmere is still highly prized. “Our factory is based in Scotland – meaning our product is the absolute best you can get,” says Galbraith. “All of our scarves and wraps are of the highest quality and, we think, make the perfect travel companions.” While cashmere scarves and shawls gained popularity with the aristocracy in the 19th century, it was not until the 1920s, when the likes of Coco Chanel and Jean Patou discovered its fine weight and soft texture, that it became regarded as a luxurious addition to high-end designs. And the fashion world hasn’t looked back, with some of the great British brands increasingly using cashmere in inventive and more affordable ways to appeal to a wider audience. Despite its higher price point when compared to wool, cashmere can be great value. If you choose an item well and look after it, by either hand-washing with a specialist detergent or dry-cleaning, then a good quality piece will last for years. What’s more, it can often improve with age, getting softer to the touch without the bobbling effect of cheaper wools, making it a very stylish investment. softer TOUCH a CASHMERE ON BOARD Clockwise from left: Pashma Graffiti Floral Print, £89, page 57; Morgan & Oates Cashmere and Merino Wool Wrap, £39, page 57; Morgan & Oates Monochrome Scarf, £69, page 57
