Just in time for the holidays, Everlane opened its latest concept shop, Cashmere Cabin, on Nov. 11. Open through Dec. 23, the cozy cabin aims to have something for everyone on your shopping list, including men’s and women’s Grade-A cashmere sweaters, Australian merino wool coats, and new — stocking stuffer sized — leather goods.
The one-stop shop will have custom gift-wrapping, hot chocolate for customers to warm up, a limited-edition Pintrill gift with purchase, and treats from Everlane’s favorite neighborhood spots, to name a few of the reasons why to visit it at 392 Bleecker Street. There will also be a special two-day event on Dec. 10 and 11 in which guests learn more about monogramming, calligraphy and customizing gift tags.
Cashmere Cabin will be open from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM from Monday through Saturday and between 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM on Sundays. Additional information can be found on the Everlane website.
As the weather gets colder, New Yorkers have a need to layer up for warmth. Arguably the warmest non-jacket item that a person can wear, the cashmere sweater is an article of clothing that simultaneously provides ultra-warmth and fashionability. Yet not all cashmere is sourced or prepared with the same level of care, making some designers stand out far and apart from others.
Kinross Cashmere, with offices in both New York City and Boston, is currently sold online and at over 500 retailers nationwide. Originally part of Dawson International — a world-renowned luxury textile company headquartered in Kinross, Scotland — Kinross Cashmere is now a U.S.-based cashmere and luxury natural fiber apparel line. It is currently the only company in its industry with a bluesign certification.
Downtown spoke with a few folks from the Kinross team to learn more about the brand: Co-Founder Andy Bartmess, Co-Founder Mary McCann, and Creative Director Suzanne Pond. Between the three Kinross team members, there was some great knowledge dropped about the geography and materials needed to produce a top-tier cashmere sweater and also where to find some great razor clams in Downtown Manhattan.
Do you remember the first cashmere item you ever owned?
Suzanne Pond: My first cashmere item was a red sweater one of our family friends gave me as a kid. It was the softest coziest sweater I had ever tried on and I couldn’t wait for the weather to get cool enough so I could wear it. My mom would only let me wear it on special occasions since it was such an expensive piece for a little kid to wear, and that feeling of wearing the bright red, soft sweater on the most special days of my childhood has stayed with me ever since.
A lot of people first heard of cashmere via the Led Zeppelin song title “Kashmir.” Is there any relation between the two?
SP: While the song doesn’t really have anything to do with cashmere, the song title certainly does. Kashmir is a region of northern India, and it is reputed to be the original 18th century source of shawls made using hair from the fine winter undercoat of a certain breed of goat — this fine goat fiber eventually took the name of its origin and came to be known as cashmere. The Led Zeppelin song is more about Robert Plant’s adventures driving through the Sahara Desert in northern Africa. As it happens, the vast majority of the best quality cashmere material in the world today also comes from the regions around a desert, but it’s the Gobi, not the Sahara.
What is it about that your cashmere that provides so much warmth?
SP: Cashmere goats live in extremely harsh environments and their coats have evolved to insulate them from those conditions. The warmth is related to the fineness of the fiber which makes it more effective at blocking the cold airflow. Cashmere is one of the finest commercially-available fibers, and we select only the highest grade fiber for our garments, making them especially warm and soft.
You are known as a Scottish company, but also have offices in Boston and New York City. What is it that is worked on in the New York office?
SP: In the beginning, we were owned by the Scottish luxury textiles company Dawson International; headquartered in Kinross, Scotland. Besides Kinross, they also owned well-known cashmere brands like Ballantyne and Pringle. We became a privately-held business in 2014, after Dawson International closed its operations. Boston is our home office and includes Finance, Customer Service, Design, Sourcing and Distribution. Our sales team and showroom are based in our New York City office.
How does a company go about becoming a bluesign® Systems Partner?
SP: It’s not easy! The bluesign governing body is based in Switzerland. They have an extensive and arduous process to test and certify a company’s supply chain to ensure it treats all the people and communities it interacts with respectfully, lawfully and responsibly, and that it does no harm to the environment. Certification starts with detailed documentation of the production process and includes several cycle audits, inspections and improvements. In total, this process took us more than a year to complete and we are proud to say that we are the only company in our industry with a bluesign certification.
Do you remember the first store in New York that carried Kinross Cashmere products?
Mary McCann: Absolutely, in 2001 Rothmans’s, on Park Avenue South and 18th Street, was the first store in New York to carry Kinross Cashmere. It’s a men’s clothing store carrying luxury brands that have a similar core mission to ours, so it’s a true honor to work with the team there. They remain huge supporters and continue to carry Kinross Cashmere.
Do you have a favorite Kinross Cashmere article of clothing? Or one that you wear most often?
MM: Living in the Northeast, nothing beats the perfect black cashmere turtleneck. An iconic silhouette in a luxury fiber is my must-have. It is the most versatile sweater as it is the perfect companion to jeans for a casual weekend look or can be dressed up with skinny black pant or pencil skirt for the office.
What’s coming up for Kinross Cashmere in the near-future?
MM: We just launched our women’s Spring ’17 collection and have introduced a luxury tissue weight cotton yarn and new range of tees that are made in the USA. We are finalizing our Fall ’17 range, showcasing woven coats, super-lightweight worsted cashmere and accessories in addition to our yummy cashmere sweaters. We are pleased to announce that we are introducing a new men’s collection in Fall 17, designed by a menswear guru, which includes fine shirtings made in the USA, Italian knit ties and accessories.
Are there any brands that Kinross Cashmere partners with?
MM: No, currently Kinross has not partnered with any brands, although it has been on the radar and our customer may see some partnerships in the future.
When not busy with work, how do you like to spend your free time?
Andy Bartmess: What’s free time? (laughs) When I am not in the office, I spend my time enjoying the great outdoors via running, biking and paddling. New England is home to a vibrant arts community and I support the local arts scene by catching all the new shows at the repertory theaters and exhibits at the local museums.
Do you have a favorite restaurant in New York?
AB: Casa Mona, a cute quaint neighborhood restaurant in Gramercy. Two words: razor clams!
Finally, any last words for the kids?
AB: The world currently produces millions of low-quality apparel that can only be worn a handful of times. This is a huge waste of raw materials and a major source of greenhouse gasses. It’s worth it to invest in beautiful, high-quality clothes that will last. The younger generation is in-tune with sustainability and longevity. Cashmere is the perfect item!
Who knew the evil palms would make you feel so good?
The luxurious unisex mens inspired brand, Palmiers du Mal, released its Pre-Spring/Resort 2016 collection with 100% cashmere knits and sweaters, paired with tailored cotton button ups and tailored wool slacks.
Headed by Shane Fonner and Brandon Capps, who strengthened their skills at fashion houses like Billy Reid, Maison Kitsune, and Saturdays NYC, lend their passion for design and a Utopian life full of inspiration for the kinetic creative.
Focused on creating quality garments, Creative Director and travel writer, Shane Fonner, pushes his philosophical and travel insight a little further in his mens inspired pre-spring collection. The vibrant color schemes draw influence from Morocco, Brazil, and Mexico. They also incorporate brown, black, navy, and ecru to blend each so it works for every skin tone and eye color, creating diversity not only in gender but on a universal scale.
Fonner also plays with layers and shapes in the this collection. For him, the ability to layer up and down is important and stands as a focal point for the collection. Incorporating the New York winter weather conditions and casual classic style of the city, Fonner urges consumers to use their creativity to play with each piece. “This winter, despite the cold, I still really tried to not wear a jacket,” he continued, “I would put on a giant chunky old cardigan over top of another sweater, which is over a button down shirt, and some kind of thick pants. Being able to wear cashmere is really really nice on the legs,so I try to make some interesting pieces.” With Fonner’s background in retail, he stands by the importance of knowing his consumer and creating pieces most practical and appealing to the consumer.
Photo courtesy of Palmier du Mal
Cashmere is known to be one of the most dainty materials to create with, but with Palmiers du Mal’s seven gram weight Scottish cashmere knitted in Italy, it creates the urge to sleep, eat, and live in it. Adding on to this idea of practicality, Fonnor is intrigued by the stories that clothing can tell after a few wear and tears, he expresses, “I don’t even necessarily want people to dry clean it all the time. I had instances where I’ve thrown my cashmere in the washer and it comes out feeling so soft.” Fonnor continues, “the fabric stretches and it takes on a whole different life and then you don’t feel like you have to treat it with kitten gloves. It’s not like a priceless piece of artwork.”
The pieces in the collection offer a variety of styles from pop overs, flag fronts, to camp collars and providing the same variety with price points. You can purchase Palmier du Mal on their website and C.H.C.M boutique.
Time to rid the popular misconception that the finest fabric in the fashion industry can only be worn in the winter and spring months. Cashmere is the perfect wear for summer or any of the 365 days of the year.
There are benefits to wearing the softest fabric known to humankind, more than you can count with your fingers. Cashmere is lightweight, breathable, odor resistant and soft to the touch. It’s made from an exclusive wool which is water and fire resistant. On top of that, it absorbs UV radiation and stays cool, so you’ll be just fine under the sun’s rays. Plus it’s sturdy, so it will last a lifetime. Cashmere’s perfect for a night out on the town, on a cool day, a roof top party or a beach bash.
Fashion designer Katerena DePasquale, provides her perspective on cashmere and why it’s the must-have fabric of the summer. DePasquale formerly worked with John Galliano of Christian Dior and now owns and designs her exclusive Mongolian cashmere-only fashion line Kat Cashmere.Her line makes clothing pieces from the finest Cashmere, derived from goats in the Inner Mongolia and Northern China. The products are 100% Cashmere.
DePasquale went with cashmere as the main fabric of her clothing line because of its versatility and superior quality. “Cashmere defines luxury feel,” she explained. “When you wear a cashmere sweater you feel like a million bucks! It is amazing how simple designs can be enhanced by a material’s quality. Cashmere is the finest wool. It is that downy layer of wool from the Cashmere goat.”
DePasquale is especially fond of wearing Cashmere in the summer months because of its unique qualities and its rich texture. She maintains that “the luxury feel that cashmere connotes is timeless, regardless of season.”
DePasquale is most excited about her cream colored Brea crew-neck sweater in 1 ply. It “works well for warmer months. When I designed this piece I was thinking about the beach; it is ideal for a walk along the ocean. However, it is also great for any summer occasion: day looks, evening events. You can pair with white jeans for a classier look, or you can wear it with jean shorts for a more relaxed, casual feel.”
A simple essential like a light sweater or cardigan is a necessity in anyone’s wardrobe. So this summer, why not go for the finest of fabrics: cashmere.
