The Women's Open Cardigan in Vicuña

Knitted in Umbria, Italy

Made in Italy carries an almost instant validation in the world of Cashmere - however, it's never quite simple with many facilities choosing to cut corners and engage in lower-quality production in order to compete with the 'democratized offerings of fast-fashion. Seeking somewhere with exceptional standards for the knitwear in our 'Quintessential' collection, we searched through many of the boutique facilities peppered across the country (mainly around Piedmont, Genoa, Bologna, and finally Umbria), until we found a place that was rather special. The founding craftsman of this workshop in Umbria took his first step into the world of textiles and knitwear at the age of seventeen, when he accepted an apprenticeship working for his aunt. A renowned artisan herself, she groomed him for over a decade until he had garnered the experience and contacts he felt necessary to open his own shop. Today, the small business that opened with just two pieces of machinery has expanded under the watchful eyes of his family, who continue to run the workshop. These artisans craft beautiful knitwear from some of the highest quality materials for luxury houses all over the world. Most important to them is the continuation of beautiful, authentic Italian craftsmanship.

##Vicuña is the rarest fibre in the world, with availability closely monitored by Peruvian authorities and the select few brands that offer it for sale. The process of transforming fibres into fabric starts with a tradition dating back to the ancient Incas, according to which individual strands are sorted carefully by hand. These fibres then arrive at our mill where they are woven into impeccable pieces by craftsmen, who pride themselves on the care and attention they dedicate to everything they produce. A $3,000 Men’s Scarf for $575? A New Kind of Bargain by S. Christian (03/05/2017), The Wall Street Journal.

##craftsmanship excellence is represented in each of our Vicuña pieces. It's simple, really- the world's rarest fibres, woven by the world's premier craftsmen. We refuse to compromise on quality, which is why we source only the finest Vicuña, made by the masters. Each Vicuña item in our range balances lightweight comfort with supreme warmth in a classic piece that is literally worth more than its weight in gold. While our customers appreciate us increasing the availability of this luxury material, our competitors are not so keen on the challenge to their excessive prices. We do like to cause a stir...