Luxurious feel - the softest, finest cashmere fibers

The fibers in Isle of Skye Cashmere sweaters come from goats in the high plains of Mongolia, exposed to the most extreme environmental elements of altitude and cold. In the long, cold winters, the temperature may fall to 20 degrees below zero. In this harsh climate, the goats grow a downy undercoat of soft hair beneath their coarse exterior coat. This undercoat is the source of our cashmere fibers.

The harsher the environment, the better the quality of the goat's undercoat. No other fiber can match the cashmere produced by the goats of this desolate land. In the spring, local herdsmen begin the laborious task of combing the precious undercoat from the belly and chin of their goats. It takes a goat 4 years to grow enough cashmere for 1 Isle of Skye Cashmere sweater.

The length, cross section, and color of the individual fibers determine the quality of raw cashmere. Longer, finer fibers are softer and resist pilling. Also, the whitest fibers provide a more beautiful appearance. Our Scottish yarn manufacturer uses only the very highest quality cashmere fiber. Other suppliers often obtain their cashmere from cheaper sources. Although still cashmere, their fiber may be short and thicker which degrades the softness and durability of the sweater. Also, they may use darker colored fibers, which will detract from the appearance of the pastel colors. Lower priced cashmere sweaters are made from these lower quality fibers.

Exquisite fit - custom made and hand finished in Scotland

The finest cashmere sweaters in the world are knit in Scotland. Scotland has two natural resources that are impossible to replicate. The first is the craftsmen who masterfully create perfection based on generations of pride and knowledge of their work. Second there is the Scottish water, which is so soft and pure that it gently opens up the cashmere fibers and releases a luxurious softness in the fiber.

We specially selected our knitting mills in the Scottish Borders based on their painstaking attention to quality and detail. Our sweaters are custom knit to our specifications, with smaller stitches to higher density, producing a garment that has a beautiful drape and fit. Knitting our sweaters involves over 30 steps, many of which are completed by hand. Every seam of each Isle of Skye sweater is checked by hand, the detailing is stitched by hand, and the final press before folding and labeling is done by hand. Only pride in craftsmanship that is passed down from generation to generation can deliver the quality of an Isle of Skye Cashmere Sweater.

You can find lower cost cashmere sweaters mass produced from the Far East. But, if you want the special craftsmanship of Scottish cashmere that will last for years, Isle of Skye Cashmere is your best choice.

Lasting quality - our sweaters get softer through wear and washing

The long fibers and tight knit in Isle of Skye Cashmere means that our sweaters will retain their beauty for a much longer time - 10 years or more. The short fibers of lower quality cashmere create the "pills" that are a telltale sign of lower cost, poor quality cashmere sweaters. The feel and drape of Isle of Skye Cashmere will actually improve through wear and washing, as the fiber strands open up to become fuller and softer.