Loro Piana cashmere cardigan from Neiman Marcus

The interesting thing is that the article talked about how Loro Piana sells its fabric to high-end manufacturers such as Brioni and Brooks Brothers.  They use the fabric and can then put the Loro Piana label on them.  But, what nobody really knows is that they also sell their fabric to middle-end manufacturers as well.  Places like Bloomingdale’s also use them to make their in-store sweaters.
The biggest thing I learned is that J. Crew also buys their wool from there (remember – cashmere is a type of wool).  So, all of J. Crew’s sweaters are now made from the same wool as the sweaters made by Loro Piana!  Can you believe it?  J. Crew sweaters are about 20% of the price of Loro Piana sweaters.  J. Crew used to buy from a different manufacturer, but now is buying from Loro Piana because they want to increase the quality of their items and hopefully the price.  The good thing is that their prices can never even be in the same ballpark as Loro Piana since they cater to a much different market.  Therefore, if you are looking for a cashmere cardigan, you should definitely consider the cashmere from J. Crew.

J. Crew cashmere cardigan

The one downside was that the writer, Christina Binkley, compared 2 cashmere cardigans, one from Loro Piana and the other from J. Crew.  She found that the J. Crew one was a lot thinner and a lot more flimsy.  It seemed like the J. Crew sweater wouldn’t last half as long as the Loro Piana one.  So, even though the cashmere is purchased from the same place, when it is made into a sweater, J. Crew does not put as much effort or detail or even material into it as Loro Piana.   Also, I went to Neiman Marcus to look at a Loro Piana cashmere cardigan and it is definitely a lot thicker and more luxurious than ones from J. Crew.  However, it was also more than $5000 which equals more than 20 J. Crew sweaters.

Regardless of that, I still think it is a great deal.  I don’t know about you, but I definitely cannot afford a Loro Piana sweater.  However, I can buy a J. Crew sweater really easily.  So, this winter, when I am looking for my new cashmere cardigans, I will be looking at J. Crew for some great quality items.

Ellen Tracy cashmere cardigan from Nordstrom

A cashmere cardigan is one of the most versatile items that you can buy.  Starting from the end of Summer until the end of Spring, you will be able to wear the cashmere cardigan all year round.  Beyond that, you can match it with so many different outfits that you will find yourself pulling it out again and again to wear.  It goes on top of jeans, skirts, and even a ton of dresses, both formal and more casual.  It also goes on top of t-shirts, long sleeve button down formal shirts, and little tank tops that you wear around during the summer.

The best thing about the cashmere cardigan is how warm and soft it is.  For such a thin, lightweight item, you get a lot of warmth.  To remain that warm with any other item would usually require a coat or sweater that is much heavier.  The feel of cashmere against the body makes the material one of the most luxurious materials in the world.

One little known fact is that cashmere is a fiber obtained from the Cashmere goat and it is actually a type of wool.  In the U.S., there are strict requirements for the product to be labeled as cashmere, however, some countries are more relaxed in their standards.  When buying a cashmere cardigan, make sure you check the label so you know it is 100% cashmere.  Many manufacturers make a blended cashmere where cashmere is mixed in with another material such as wool, silk or even cotton.  These blends can also be very comfortable, but they won’t be as warm as a pure cashmere cardigan.  Many stores will not tell you upfront that it is not 100% cashmere so don’t get tricked into buying something that you think is 100%.

Cashmere is more expensive than silk, wool, cotton, or other materials used to make clothes because the goats that it comes from are rarer and there are only a few areas that actually raise the goats.  Because of this, you should always check to make sure it is 100%.  If it isn’t, then you definitely should not be paying as much money.  Some stores like to use the word cashmere even if it is only 10% cashmere since they know they can get more money for any item labeled as cashmere.  So be careful when purchasing.  Also, be prepared to pay a bit more for your cashmere cardigan.

The cashmere cardigan that you can buy can be thick cashmere, or the very thin cashmere.  The thin cashmere usually fits better on the body.  Both kinds can be equally warm even though one is thinner.  Thinner cashmere is usually more expensive and used by more luxury designers such as Vince, Theory, and Tse.  Regardless of if your cardigan is thick or thin, the most important thing is if the cashmere is very fine.  The finer the cashmere, the more expensive the cardigan and the longer it will keep.  Coarser cashmere tends to pill more easily and won’t last as long.  When determining whether or not the cashmere is higher quality, use your fingers to judge.  If the cashmere doesn’t feel smooth, soft and fine, then it probably isn’t as high quality and is closer to regular wool.  If it feels soft and luxurious, then it is probably much better cashmere.