Origin: Traditionally gathered from the soft undercoat of cashmere goats.
Fiber: Fine animal fiber with warmth, loft, and a brushed hand.
Feel: Soft, warm, light, and quietly luxurious.
Care instructions: Air between wears, hand wash cold when appropriate, dry flat, and store folded.
How to recognize quality: Look for a dense knit, soft recovery, minimal shedding, and an even hand.
Common blends: Common blends include wool, silk, cotton, and synthetic fibers for structure or price.

Wool

Wool guide

Wool brings natural warmth, resilience, and structure to coats, tailoring, and knits.

Origin: Shorn from sheep and used across centuries of tailoring and cold-weather dress.
Fiber: Crimped animal fiber that traps warmth while remaining breathable.
Feel: Structured, warm, springy, and durable.
Care instructions: Brush, air, steam gently, spot clean first, and dry clean structured garments.
How to recognize quality: Look for recovery, even surface, dense weave, and clean finishing.
Common blends: Often blended with cashmere, silk, alpaca, nylon, or cotton.

Tweed

Tweed guide

Tweed is prized for texture, durability, heritage character, and tailoring.

Origin: Associated with British and Irish textile traditions, including protected regional cloths.
Fiber: Usually wool, woven with texture, color variation, and sturdy hand.
Feel: Textural, substantial, warm, and character-rich.
Care instructions: Air, brush, protect from moths, and dry clean structured pieces when needed.
How to recognize quality: Look for tight weave, good lining, balanced shoulders, and intact labels or provenance.
Common blends: Often pure wool, though some modern tweeds include other fibers.

Linen

Linen softens beautifully, breathes well, and carries relaxed structure.

Origin: Made from flax, one of the oldest cultivated textile fibers.
Fiber: Plant fiber known for strength, breathability, and natural slub.
Feel: Cool, dry, textured, and increasingly soft with wear.
Care instructions: Wash cool, reshape while damp, line dry, and embrace gentle creasing.
How to recognize quality: Look for dense weave, natural texture, strong seams, and a soft washed hand.
Common blends: Often blended with cotton, silk, viscose, or TENCEL™ for drape.

Silk

Silk brings fluid drape, light strength, and a quiet natural sheen.

Origin: A natural filament fiber historically associated with fine weaving and dress.
Fiber: Long protein fiber with strength, luster, and soft movement.
Feel: Smooth, fluid, cool, and luminous.
Care instructions: Steam lightly, avoid harsh sunlight, wash carefully only when safe, and store away from snags.
How to recognize quality: Look for weight, opacity, smooth seams, and a fabric that drapes rather than clings.
Common blends: Common blends include cotton, wool, linen, and elastane.

Leather

Leather develops patina, structure, and utility when cared for properly.

Origin: A durable natural material used for bags, belts, shoes, and outerwear.
Fiber: Animal hide tanned for strength, flexibility, and longevity.
Feel: Structured, smooth or grained, protective, and tactile.
Care instructions: Brush or wipe clean, condition sparingly, protect from soaking, and store with shape.
How to recognize quality: Look for grain, stitching, hardware, lining, and edges that show careful construction.
Common blends: Often paired with cotton linings, wool panels, or suede finishes.

Cotton

Cotton offers everyday comfort, softness, washability, and natural breathability.

Origin: A widely used plant fiber with long wardrobe history.
Fiber: Plant fiber spun into crisp shirting, soft jersey, denim, twill, and more.
Feel: Soft, breathable, familiar, and useful.
Care instructions: Wash cool or warm as appropriate, reshape, and avoid unnecessary high heat.
How to recognize quality: Look for sturdy seams, smooth hand, good weight, and fabric that recovers after washing.
Common blends: Often blended with linen, silk, wool, or stretch fibers.

TENCEL™

TENCEL™ brings smooth drape, soft movement, and modern ease.

Origin: A branded cellulosic fiber known for refined hand and fluidity.
Fiber: Regenerated cellulose fiber with softness, breathability, and drape.
Feel: Smooth, cool, fluid, and polished.
Care instructions: Wash cool, avoid harsh heat, hang or steam to relax wrinkles, and store with room to drape.
How to recognize quality: Look for even surface, good drape, clean stitching, and fabric that does not feel flimsy.
Common blends: Often blended with cotton, linen, wool, or elastane.