Italians are globally renowned for their sophisticated fashion tastes and elegant, universally admired style. But when it comes down to it, nothing speaks of luxury, practicality and comfort more than an authentic Italian cashmere sweater. Popular with both men and women, Italian cashmere sweaters come in a number of different styles, including modern zip-up designs with hoods, cardigans and traditional closed-fronted V-necks.
Perfect for keeping warm on a cool spring evening and easy to mix and match to fit in with your winter wardrobe, every Italophile should have a couple of genuine Italian-made cashmere sweaters in their personal collection. The top Italian cashmere brands not only make sweaters but also create beautiful jackets, scarves and other times. Even so, with a quick search through the company’s websites, you’ll quickly locate the sweaters and knitwear section!
What Is Italian Cashmere?
Cashmere is one of the most expensive fibers in the world that has been in popular use in Italy for hundreds of years. Cashmere (Kashmir as it is known in India) originates in the Himalayas and, as the legend goes, was first discovered in the 14th Century by Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani who made a pair of socks with the softest goat hair for the Sultan. The Sultan was so impressed by the socks that he suggested that Ali Hamadani started a business manufacturing these luxury socks using the exclusive fibers of his cashmere goats.
As word of this luxury fiber spread throughout the world, Italian merchants began to import cashmere to make shawls for the wealthy aristocrats in society. Once the cashmere arrives in Italy it’s spun and weaved by expert Italian artisans and crafted into some of the finest garments, including scarves, sweaters, jackets and coats. In recent decades, several Cashmere goat farms have been setup in Italy.
Why Is Cashmere So Expensive?
Cashmere garments come with a high price tag because it actually takes up to 4 years for a cashmere goat to grow and naturally shed enough of its fine hairs to make a single sweater. The cashmere fibers are also carefully selected and only harvested from the super soft, and ultra-fine hairs that grow on the goat’s belly and neck.
These hairs then have to be sifted out from the other hairs which means that the process of harvesting the cashmere fibers is very labor intensive. When the difficulty of harvesting cashmere is combined with the length of time that it takes for the cashmere goat’s hair to grow it’s easy to see why cashmere items can be so expensive.
The Best Italian Cashmere Sweater Brands.
The following are some of the best Italian cashmere sweater brands:
Sease.
Founded in Milan in 2016, Sease is renowned for its high quality jerseys, sportswear, skiing jackets, urban fashion and blazers. Sease has a fantastic range of cashmere sweaters, including both pure cashmere items as well as cashmere and cotton mixes.
The selection of cashmere sweaters is fairly limited but each item is expertly made and comes in a choice of versatile colors. From zip-up sweaters with a small collar to more traditional V-neck options, button-up sweaters and hoodies, Sease’s cashmere sweaters are perfect for smart casual wear and outdoor pursuits.
The men’s Cardigan Ketch is one of the highlights in the Sease catalog. The Cardigan Ketch combines high quality cashmere and cotton and has a stylish button-up design with a collar. The cardigan comes in a dark brown shade but it’s also reversible with an eye-catching reddish hue on the inner side. The Cardigan Ketch sweater can be matched with a blazer for a smart evening wear look or worn as a statement piece, particularly during the warmer spring months.
In the women’s collection, the Dingy Roll sweater is reversible and is made from pure cashmere yarn. All of the cashmere is sourced from sustainable herds and is amongst the highest quality in the world. Another great option in the women’s collection is the Schooner Corsehair 100% cashmere sweater. It has a half-zip front and a large, cozy collar that makes it ideal for those freezing winter days.
Massimo Alba.
Founded in 2006 by Massimo Alba, a famous designer who has been working in the fashion industry since the 1980s, his brand by the same name makes a wide range of clothes for men and women, including lovely cashmere sweaters in numerous styles and colors.
Massimo Alba creates a good choice of cashmere sweaters as well jackets, coats, men’s suits, shirts, scarves and accessories for both men and women. Among the cashmere jumpers, the men’s cashmere and wool crew neck sweater really stands out as versatile, long-lasting and great value for money.
There’s a beautiful range of women’s sweaters in pure cashmere including gorgeous turtle neck sweaters in multiple colors as well as delightful crew necks that are suitable for all occasions.
Massimo Alba is one of Italy’s leading cashmere sweater retailers and if you’re looking for some sophisticated items to pair with your new sweater the company’s catalog has everything you might need. When you buy online, you can also benefit from a free delivery service for orders above 300 Euros.
Boglioli Milano.
This luxury fashion brand was founded in 1974 by Mario Boglioli and creates magnificent cashmere sweaters, jackets and accessories as well as a whole catalog of other ready-made clothes. Boglioli Milano makes industry leading clothes and accessories for men and women although the range of cashmere sweaters is larger for men than it is for women.
In the women’s range, there is an ultra-stylish cashmere Brera-style jacket that can double as an elegant sweater and is perfect to complement an evening outfit. However, the real treasure trove of cashmere sweaters can be found in the men’s collection. For men, there are numerous cashmere sweaters in a choice of colors including stripes and single-colored items. Most of the sweaters are crew neck with a choice of plain or cable knit but you can also opt for an elegant turtle neck or even a cashmere and wool bomber jacket-styled sweater design.
Pashmere.
Pashmere is a family-run men’s fashion brand that produces some of the finest cashmere sweaters and knitwear in its factory in Perugia. Originally founded by Meno Galatioto Rosso and his wife Mariuccia, in the mid-1960s, the brand has a well-earned reputation for high quality stitching and excellent design work in everything it creates.
Pashmere offers a great selection of ready-to-wear sweaters that are ideal for autumn, winter and spring. Some of the stand-out sweaters in the Pashmere collection include the Fisherman’s ribbed stitching cardigan with front spacious pockets. Made with 100% cashmere, the cardigan has mock buttons and a lovely contrasting borderline. For a more retro look, you can opt for the color block turtleneck sweater which is also made with 100% cashmere in Perugia.
As well as ready-to-wear cashmere sweaters you can also order a custom made long sleeved sweater from Pashmere. When you order a custom design you can choose the type of collar as well as the color and stitching of your sweater. However, you don’t need to order a custom design to find an ultra-chic cashmere sweater in the Pashmere collection for the modern man.
Linea Azzurro.
Linea Azzurro is a relatively new player on the scene and was only founded in 2020 by two Italophiles, Nigel Gee and Russell Goodkind. Although the company is headquartered in the UK all of the cashmere sweaters are made in Italy using the finest artisan techniques. Linea Azzurro creates 100% cashmere sweaters for both men and women and seeks to deliver top quality garments at a price that is more affordable than most other Italian cashmere brands.
The founders of the company have been working with Italian manufacturers for more than 20 years, long before they founded Linea Azzurro, and have built up strong relationships with some of the finest Italian manufacturers in the cashmere industry. The brand creates delightful cashmere knitwear, sweaters, clothing and accessories that are stylish, fashionable and won’t break the bank.
In the women’s collection, there are 3 main types of sweaters to choose from; crew neck cashmere sweaters and two different styles of cashmere cardigans. In the men’s collection, there’s a wider choice of sweaters that include crew neck sweaters, V-neck sweaters, full zip up and half zip-fronted sweaters. All of the cashmere in the collection is responsibly sourced and manufactured in Italy. The garments are long-lasting and offer consumers some of the best value for money in the Italian cashmere market.
Mansion Cashmere.
Mansion Cashmere has an incredible collection of women’s sweaters that are all artisanally made in Italy by some of the nation’s top producers. There’s a fantastic range of sweaters and cardigans to suit every season. All of the sweaters are made with carefully selected blends of Italian cashmere with a beautiful range of designs that really accentuate the feminine form.
From standard crew neck sweaters in a number of different colors to funky turtlenecks with a chunky collar, there’s bound to be something that catches your eye. There are also cashmere cardigan sweaters and chic V-neck designs which are versatile enough to be mixed and matched with almost any wardrobe. So if you’re looking for a super cozy women’s cashmere sweater that is elegant and made with the best cashmere by talented Italian artisans, then look no further than Mansion Cashmere.
Kiton.
Kiton is a luxury Italian clothing brand that was founded in 1968 by Ciro Paone. The brand has experienced fantastic growth over the last half-century and now has stores all over the world. With a motto of ‘Il meglio del meglio più uno’, or, in English, ‘the best of the best plus one’, you’re sure to find some amazing cashmere sweaters that will really compliment your personal tastes. Kiton makes cashmere sweaters for both men and women in an exciting range of colors and styles.
In the men’s collection, the crew neck sweaters take the traditional style and jazz it up with bold, geometric designs that are sure to make a splash and look great under a casual blazer. Meanwhile, the men’s cashmere sweater with a hood gives the classic sweater an urban streetwear twist that is sophisticated and in vogue.
In the women’s collection, the turtle neck, high neck and crew neck sweaters are all made with superb stitching and come in a nice range of colors. These lovely sweaters will keep you warm in the winter while adding a lovely statement piece to your outfit.
A Cashmere Sweater Is A Great Investment.
Practical, durable and super warm, a cashmere sweater is a fantastic addition to any wardrobe. With a great selection of stylish designs, from bold geometric patterns to urban style cuts and traditionally elegant V-neck sweaters, Italian cashmere sweaters are head and shoulders above the competition.
