Sunspel has just made the only cashmere jumper you need this autumn
Knitted in Scotland from exceptionally rare, ultra-fine fibres, the British brand’s first Baby Cashmere crew neck is a masterclass in understated luxury.
- Words by: Harry Jarman
One of Gentleman’s Journal’s favourite British brands is having quite a week. Fresh from enlisting Mark Strong for its latest campaign, Sunspel has turned its attention to something even softer: its first-ever Baby Cashmere knitwear. And, frankly, the timing couldn't be better.
The new Baby Cashmere Crew Neck is Sunspel at its simplest and best. No logos, no unnecessary detailing, no attempt to reinvent a garment that doesn't need reinventing. Just a beautifully cut crew neck made from an exceptionally luxurious material. The Oatmeal Melange, which has that warm camel-like tone, is our pick. Worn simply with a great pair of jeans, it looks effortlessly cool; throw a suede bomber over the top and you've got much of your autumn wardrobe sorted.
There's considerably more going on here than good looks. Baby Cashmere comes from the first coat of young cashmere goats in Inner Mongolia and is collected by combing the animals during their natural moulting season. Measuring approximately 13.5 microns in diameter, the fibres are finer than conventional cashmere, resulting in a fabric that is extraordinarily soft and light while retaining impressive warmth. And, because it comes from that first coat, Baby Cashmere can only be collected once during the animal's lifetime, making it available in extremely limited quantities.
It's a material that feels particularly appropriate for Sunspel. Since 1860, the British brand has built much of its reputation around an obsession with exceptional natural fibres, from Sea Island and Supima cotton to fine merino wool and cashmere. Rather than using luxury materials simply as a selling point, Sunspel has traditionally chosen them for how they actually make a garment feel and perform.
That thinking continues here. The delicate Baby Cashmere yarn requires particular care during production, with each jumper knitted in Scotland by specialist makers using generations of British knitwear expertise. The finished result is lightweight, remarkably warm and, most importantly, exceptionally soft.
It's also the sort of piece that should only get better with age. At £1,100, this is unquestionably an investment jumper. But Sunspel has never really been about disposable fashion. Buy the right thing, keep the design simple, look after it properly and wear it for years.
Sunspel
Baby Cashmere Crew Neck
£1,100.00
Available in Navy, Powder Blue and Oatmeal Melange, all three have their merits. But we'd go for the latter. Jeans, brown suede bomber, perhaps a pair of loafers, nothing else required.
Sometimes the simplest clothes are the hardest to get right. Sunspel has had more than 165 years of practice.
The Sunspel Baby Cashmere Crew Neck is priced at £1,100 and available 16th November, online and at selected Sunspel stores. Shop the collection at Sunspel.
