For years, I bought cashmere sweaters based on softness alone. I would walk into a store, touch a sweater, and if it felt like butter, I assumed it was the best. I ended up with a drawer full of sweaters that pilled within weeks, stretched out of shape, and left me wondering why I had…
I have a confession. For years, I assumed that Italian cashmere was a single category. I thought that if a sweater was made in Italy from cashmere, it was essentially the same product regardless of the brand. I was wrong. After wearing sweaters from both Falconeri and Malo for several seasons, I have come to…
For years, I assumed that Italian cashmere meant Loro Piana, Brunello Cucinelli, and Falconeri. I knew the names that dominated the quiet luxury conversation. I bought the sweaters that appeared in the magazines. Then a friend—a textile collector who had been buying luxury knitwear for decades—handed me a Fedeli sweater and said, Try this. This is…
For years, I assumed that Italian cashmere meant Loro Piana, Brunello Cucinelli, and maybe Falconeri. I knew the names that dominated the quiet luxury conversation. I bought the sweaters that appeared in the magazines and on the influencers. Then a friend—a textile collector who had been buying luxury knitwear for decades—handed me a Malo sweater…
For years, I believed that a scarf was a scarf. I bought cheap wool scarves, wore them for a season, and replaced them when they frayed or lost their shape. I assumed that a luxury cashmere scarf was an unnecessary indulgence—something for people with more money than sense. Then I bought my first Loro Piana…
For years, I assumed that Italian cashmere was made from Italian goats. I believed that the cashmere came from Italy, that the goats grazed on Italian hillsides, and that “Made in Italy” meant “sourced in Italy.” I was wrong. The truth is more interesting. Cashmere comes from goats that live in the harsh, high-altitude regions…
For years, I assumed that Italian cashmere was simply better than Scottish cashmere. I believed that Italy, with its fashion houses and luxury brands, had perfected the art of cashmere, while Scotland, with its rainy weather and tweed heritage, was stuck in the past. I was wrong. After wearing sweaters from both traditions for years,…
For years, I bought cashmere sweaters the wrong way. I would see a sweater on sale, feel the softness, and buy it without considering the quality. I assumed that all cashmere was essentially the same, and that the price difference was just branding. I ended up with a drawer full of sweaters that pilled within…
I have a confession. For years, I assumed that Loro Piana and Brunello Cucinelli were direct competitors—two Italian luxury houses selling essentially the same product at essentially the same price. I thought the choice between them came down to which logo you preferred or which brand your friends would recognize. I was wrong. After wearing…
I have a confession. For years, I believed that cashmere was cashmere. I assumed that a sweater from a department store was essentially the same as a sweater from a luxury brand, just with a different label and a higher price tag. I bought cheap cashmere, watched it pill, stretch, and lose its shape within…