THE JOURNAL
Ms Fran Lebowitz once proclaimed: “I don’t believe in God. I believe in cashmere.” A typically pithy statement from the New York author and wit; you can almost hear the canned laughter in response. But perhaps Lebowitz was onto something. After all, if there’s any fabric worthy of worship and devotion, cashmere would surely be it.
But what makes the fabric so godly? Tactile and soft, with none of the scratchy qualities of coarse wool but all the insulating benefits, cashmere is made by from combing the fluffy underbellies of Kashmiri goats as they shed their winter coats. It is famously expensive – those clever goats know that scarcity begets value, and only produce about enough fibre to make half a sweater a year – which is why most of us don’t have wardrobes packed full of the stuff.
Still, as the mercury slowly begins to descend, and the warm handle of cashmere takes on an increasing appeal, if there’s any time to invest, it is now. And there are few better names to choose than Allude. The Munich-based brand sources its own cashmere from goats in the Xinjiang region in far northwestern China and has built a reputation for timeless cashmere clothing that looks as good as it feels.
“I founded Allude to create a line of durable contemporary cashmere knits with a love for subtle craftsmanship,” explains the brand’s founder and creative director Ms Andrea Karg. “With my team, I’ve always wanted to find a better way to do things and to create and produce contemporary styles that are the new classics.”
A former lawyer, Ms Karg swapped the courtroom for the design studio shortly after qualifying and launched Allude in 1993. Understated and sophisticated in a muted palette of black, navy and melange grey, the real appeal of Allude’s cashmere is that it will slot seamlessly into any man’s wardrobe.
“I’ve always wanted to find a better way to do things and to create and produce contemporary styles that are the new classics”
Menswear has shifted considerably in recent seasons, but there are some things that can always be relied on when it comes to clothes, and a navy cashmere sweater is one of them. An unbeatable asset when it comes to sartorial versatility, it can be worn at any age and in any scenario: with tailored wool trousers and a polished pair of Oxfords for office attire, for instance, or equally with chinos and jeans and hiking boots for a weekend away in the countryside. If channelling the vibe of a well-put-together minimalist is your thing – think editor of a contemporary art magazine – a clean pair of sneakers will add to the overall effect, as will a pair of thin-framed metal specs.
It’s not all about sweaters, of course. The brand also excels at making hoodies (note the reinforced elbows for added longevity) as well as a selection of smart-looking sweatpants. Stylish in a louche sort of way and unbeatably comfortable, your first pair of Allude sweatpants will make you wonder why you ever wasted so many years wearing anything else.
Equally important to the comfort and the look of Allude’s products, however, is the investment quality. In the age of fast throwaway fashion, these cashmere pieces are both expertly designed and well made, meaning they will see you through more than a few winters and won’t date from season to season.
As if to prove this point, some of the brand’s pieces from their inaugural collection nearly 30 years ago are still quietly part of the brand’s offering today. In other words, these are long-term (and thus sustainable) clothes with heritage to back them up, that you can keep and enjoy wearing for years and years. And that’s something worth believing in.