Cashmere is one of the most luxurious natural fibers. It has its origins in Central Asia among ancient shepherd communities, who used the fiber to protect themselves from the harsh environment.
It is obtained from the undercoat of cashmere goats when they naturally shed their winter coat. Today, the silky, fine fibers are used to create soft yarns which lay the foundation for luxurious woven and knitted fabrics.
Known not only for its supreme softness but also for its insulating properties, cashmere is especially great in the winter. Why cashmere is so warm can be explained by looking at the extremely thin fibers: They contain an “air chamber” that naturally performs functions of thermoregulation and perspiration, an effect that takes extreme efforts to reproduce in synthetic fibers.
Cashmere is one of the fundamental building blocks of Akris ready-to-wear and the natural material used most next to silk, wool, and cotton. For Albert Kriemler, the fabric stands at the beginning of every design: “The creation process begins when I take a piece of fabric in my hand. When I touch it, it tells me about what I can or cannot do. Then I start to draw,” says Albert Kriemler. “It all begins with the fabric.”
Akris uses only the finest cashmere to create its ready-to-wear and scarves. From fine rib pullovers, over thick cardigans, to the iconic double-face coats, you can find this material throughout the Akris collections.
Double-face fabrics are notably special. For these characteristic fabrics, two layers are woven together on special looms to create one layer of fabric with two right sides. This makes many items reversible and generally means that the item does not have to be lined. This, and the stretch that the fabric obtains by combining the two layers, enhances the naturally graceful flow of cashmere for a unique drape and wrinkle resistance that you will not find anywhere else.
