Cozying up with ISSIMO cashmere
Explore the culture, history, and tradition of cashmere in Italy,
- BY ISSIMO
- December 7, 2021
Getting cozy in cashmere
It’s that time of the year (and yes, it’s been “that” time for a while) when we spend most of our time cozying up at home, and there is no better comfort zone than cashmere.
For centuries, cashmere has warmed the hearts and bodies of the world, but more recently, cashmere loungewear and accessories have taken over the fashion scene for their luxurious comfort, weather flexibility and unequivocally relaxed chicness. And ISSIMO has the perfect pieces to keep you comfy with the softest and most luxurious cashmere line up.
Cashmere finds its origins in the mountains of Mongolia. Here a shepherd and his herd of cashmere goats.
The History of cashmere
Cashmere’s origin story starts high in the mountains of Inner Mongolia, in areas including the Gobi Desert, Afghanistan, China, Turkey and Iran, where fine-haired cashmere goats have been roaming for centuries. In the 14th century, goat fleeces were used to make warm blankets and garments to protect from the harsh Himalaya winters. With the expansion of world trade routes in the 18th century, cashmere became a sign of wealth and fashion, and thus a coveted export to Europe and the New World.
The Italian Capra Hircus goat, sheared for cashmere during the Spring.
The tradition
of
cashmere in Italy
Exports spread and Italy quickly became one of the largest producers of soft cashmere shawls. Today the tradition continues. Italian artisans continue the centuries-old spinning and knitting techniques that transform the fibers into soft wool for sweaters, shawls and more.
Transforming wool to cashmere
What makes cashmere so precious and perfect for any season? A mix of its laborious harvesting process and low yield of quality fibers. Throughout the cold months (where the mercury drops to -40!), the capra hircus’s coat grows thick, while under its neck and belly are covered with lush hairs. By spring, the goats shed (or are combed or sheared), and it’s those very long and fine hairs that are hand-sifted from the coarse hairs to make cashmere wool. Fleece is only harvested once a year and approximately 150-200 grams of undergroat are obtained from a single goat each year. It takes approximately four years to source enough fibers for a single wool sweater – a limited quantity of the utmost highest quality.
Spooling of cashmere threads into a textile in Perugia.
ISSIMO’s exclusive
cashmere products
The 1 kilo cashmere sweater and matching cashmere pants, perfect for cozying up in or bracing the cold.
ISSIMO launches its exclusive line of cashmere sweaters, loungewear, home goods, and more that will make working, learning, or relaxing at home all the more comfortable and stylish.
ISSIMO has launched an exclusive collection of cashmere, made with selected mills and artisans for the best of Italian cashmere. Starting with the 1 kilo cashmere sweater made from a kilo of cashmere, it’s the ultimate curl-up-at-home or brace the cold sweater.
We wear it with the matching ISSIMO cashmere pants,
CHICISSIMO and so cozy.
Marie-Louise at home with the ISSIMO Pantheon blanket.
The ISSIMO Pantheon Blanket
Not your typical souvenir from Roma…the ISSIMO Pantheon blanket inspired by the coffered roof of the Pantheon, made from the softest Italian cashmere.
