100% in every way
When you understand the difficult journey Johnstons cashmere makes from the farthermost reaches of Inner Mongolia to the fashion capitals of the world you will understand why it is in such high demand.
A scarce commodity
Cashmere. It is no small wonder that cashmere is one of the most precious and prized commodities in the world. It comes from the downy underfleece of the Cashmere goat which makes its home in the highest and most inhospitable plateaux of Mongolia and Xinjiang in China.
Each year one goat produces a meagre 4.5 oz (125 grams) of underfleece which is painstakingly combed out every spring by nomadic herdsmen. It takes the hair of one goat to make a scarf, 2 to make a lady's sweater, 3 for a man's and at least 24 for an overcoat. 60% of each fleece is discarded.
But it is what happens next that makes the difference between run-of-the-mill and quality cashmere.
Keeping out the coarsest hairs
Every season we carefully select the best fibres from the finest producers in China and
and bring them to Scotland where the coarse 'guard hairs' are removed and the transformation from raw fibre to finished article begins. By making sure that only the finest and longest fibres make it through to the next stage, we can be sure the end product will be as soft and downy as can be.
Hand-checked at every stage
To say something is 100% cashmere is only the beginning of the story. What sets Johnstons apart is the workmanship which goes into everything we produce whether it is tweed, cashmere, merino wool or lambswool. Our cashmere goes through 30 different exacting processes, each of them watched over by the latest generation of Elgin and Hawick craftsmen. At every stage the cashmere - whether it's a scarf, blanket or sweater - is checked for the tiniest imperfections.
Fully-fashioned for a perfect fit
The Johnstons knitwear collection is fully fashioned, which means that each garment is knitted to shape to give the best fit. The ribbed trimmings, cuffs, collars, welts, pockets and straps are knitted on specialised machines, which create the essential tension needed to preserve the shape of the garments in wear.
Hand-finished
One thing you'll notice about Johnstons knitwear is how neat and flat the seams are. That is because we bring together the main elements of front, back and sleeves stitch by stitch in a single-needle seam for a neat and comfortable low profile finish. Many of the finishing touches such as sewing the point of the V are done by hand.
Soft highland water
Finally to remove any remaining impurities and oil we wash each garment in the same soft highland water that is used to make the world's finest whiskies. Some say it is the softness of the water that makes Johnstons cashmere feel so special.
To keep your cashmere looking its best follow our cashmere care guide.
