LABELS: CASHMERE

Is defining ‘legendary’ a fabric excessive? If it’s about cashmere, it’s not!

The origins of this fiber blend into myth, in the evoking of emperors from the East who, fascinated by the quality of its properties, did everything to get it.

The legend says that in the 16th century Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin, heir of Gengis Khan, invited to his court a weaver from Turkestan, asking him to produce precious shawls: they were then named ‘pashminas’, from the Persian ‘Pashm’ (wool), the term that also indicated cashmere in the Indian continent.

Its fibers derive from the fleece of the so-called ‘Kashmir Goat’, raised in countries such as Iran, Russia, Afghanistan, Turkey and India. The world’s most refined cashmere comes from Mongolia: the northern side produces the ‘brown’ fiber, while the South produces the ‘white’ one, which is the most precious one. In order to protect themselves from cold, goats have two kinds of fleece – a superficial, raw one, and another one down under, close to the body, composed by short, warm fluff named ‘duvet’.

In the comparison with wool cashmere is more shining, lucid and soft. Its preciosities are perfect to interpret the visions of Katie Grand, the English stylist author, this year, of FILA’s 110th Collection. By using the best yarns from the Biellese production, the collection reinterprets eight sporty moods from the brand’s history, giving an unexpected vision of contemporary streetwear.