Cashmere is one of the few materials where the name on the label genuinely matters. The quality of the fibre, the way it is spun and the care taken in knitting all determine whether a jumper softens beautifully over the years or pills after a few weeks. This guide brings together twelve luxury cashmere brands, from historic houses to independent labels, with what makes each of them distinctive.
How to judge a cashmere brand
A few signs separate serious cashmere from the rest. Look for transparency about where the fibre comes from and where the garment is made. Check the composition: pure cashmere, or cashmere blended with silk, behaves very differently from a wool blend with a small percentage of cashmere. Feel the density of the knit: good cashmere is soft but substantial, never thin or loose. And look at the finishing of the collar, cuffs and seams. For tips on wearing it through the year, see our guide on how to style cashmere year-round.
The independent labels
1. NAMI
Full disclosure: NAMI is our own brand. Founded by designer Philippine Namy, NAMI is a French womenswear label that reimagines the Scottish heritage of her family through a Parisian lens, and cashmere is at the heart of each collection. The Arisaig turtleneck is a cropped, boxy knit in 100% cashmere made in Italy, with a ribbed funnel collar. The Glasgow jumper is knitted in fine cashmere with a brushed mouliné finish. The house's signature Second Skin line blends 70% cashmere with 30% silk for fine, close-fitting layers, and the A-line cashmere skirt is knitted in 100% ribbed cashmere. Explore our cashmere collection, our jumpers and our cashmere skirts.
2. Extreme Cashmere
Founded in Amsterdam in 2016 by Saskia Dijkstra, Extreme Cashmere makes genderless knitwear in a single size, organised as a permanent, numbered collection instead of seasonal drops. The brand is known for its playful colours and relaxed shapes.
3. Lisa Yang
This Stockholm label is dedicated entirely to cashmere, with soft, timeless knits in a muted palette. Its understated Scandinavian design makes it an easy brand to build a capsule wardrobe around.
4. Chinti & Parker
Founded in London by cousins Anna Singh and Rachael Wood, Chinti & Parker brings colour, stripes and graphic motifs to cashmere. It is the brand to look at if you want knitwear with personality rather than pure minimalism.
5. Jumper 1234
A London label with a deliberately focused offer, Jumper 1234 concentrates on cashmere jumpers and cardigans in a range of classic shapes and colours. Its strength is the depth of its core collection rather than seasonal novelty.
6. & Daughter
& Daughter is an Irish label inspired by the knitwear traditions of the British Isles, working with long-established makers to produce heritage-style jumpers and cardigans. It sits at the meeting point of craft and contemporary design. For the stitches and traditions behind these knits, read our guide to heritage knitwear.
The established houses
7. Loro Piana
Founded in 1924, the Italian house Loro Piana is synonymous with exceptional fibres, from fine cashmere to vicuña and baby cashmere. Its pieces are among the most expensive on the market, and among the most discreet: quality is the signature, not the logo.
8. Brunello Cucinelli
Founded in 1978 and based in the Umbrian village of Solomeo, Brunello Cucinelli built its reputation on cashmere and on a humanist approach to business. Its knitwear is known for warm neutral tones, beautiful textures and a relaxed Italian elegance.
9. Johnstons of Elgin
Established in 1797, the Scottish mill Johnstons of Elgin is one of the oldest names in British textiles. It spins, weaves and knits cashmere in Scotland and produces both its own collections and pieces for other luxury houses. For more Scottish names, see our selection of Scottish heritage fashion brands.
The modern references
10. Khaite
The New York label founded by Catherine Holstein is known for precise, sensual cuts and impeccably finished cashmere. Its knitwear has become a reference for a polished, modern wardrobe.
11. Guest in Residence
Gigi Hadid's cashmere brand takes a relaxed, colourful approach, with comfortable shapes and a youthful mood. It is a lighter, more casual entry into cashmere.
12. Naadam
The New York brand Naadam sells cashmere directly to consumers, with a strong focus on its supply chain in Mongolia. Its essentials are among the most accessible ways to buy everyday cashmere.
Which brand for which need?
For an heirloom piece where only the fibre matters, the great houses, Loro Piana, Brunello Cucinelli and Johnstons of Elgin, remain the references. For a modern, editorial wardrobe, Khaite is the benchmark. For design-led cashmere with a point of view, the independent labels are where the most interesting work is happening today: NAMI for heritage knitwear reinterpreted with a Parisian eye, Extreme Cashmere for its one-size concept, Lisa Yang for Scandinavian softness, Chinti & Parker for colour, Jumper 1234 for classic shapes, and & Daughter for craft. And for everyday essentials in quantity, Naadam and Guest in Residence offer a lighter entry point.
Whatever the label, choose the shapes you will wear most. A cropped turtleneck, a fine layering top, a chunky cardigan and a knit skirt cover most of a winter wardrobe. Our knits and cashmere and our cardigans are built around those essentials, including the Tucker shawl cardigan in 100% merino wool.
Caring for luxury cashmere
Good cashmere repays gentle care. Hand wash in cool water with a wool detergent, or use a delicate wool cycle, never wring, and dry flat. Store folded, never on a hanger, and protect pieces from moths over the summer with cedar or lavender. A few pills may appear in the first weeks; remove them with a cashmere comb, and the knit will settle and soften with time.
Why prices vary so much
Two cashmere jumpers that look identical can differ enormously in price, and the reasons are mostly invisible. The finest cashmere comes from long, thin fibres combed from the undercoat of the goat: longer fibres pill less and keep their softness, while short fibres produce a cheaper yarn that pills quickly. The way the yarn is spun and the density of the knit also change everything, as does where and how the garment is made. A dense, well-finished knit in long-fibre cashmere will cost more on the label, but it will also last for many years, which is why the most expensive piece is often the most economical over time. Our knits and cashmere are chosen with that longevity in mind.
In summary
The world of cashmere ranges from historic houses such as Loro Piana, Brunello Cucinelli and Johnstons of Elgin to modern references such as Khaite and a new generation of independent labels, NAMI, Extreme Cashmere, Lisa Yang, Chinti & Parker, Jumper 1234 and & Daughter, alongside accessible brands such as Naadam and Guest in Residence. Choose the brand that matches the way you dress, and focus on composition, density and finishing. Discover NAMI's full selection in our cashmere collection and our turtlenecks.