Brunello Cucinelli Cashmere: What Makes It Different

Brunello Cucinelli cashmere is the reason the house exists. Brunello Cucinelli founded the company in 1978 with one idea, women’s knitwear in coloured cashmere, and every piece is still made in Italy, mostly in Umbria. At Luxury Handbags the new season runs from fine cashmere and silk layers to heavy Nordic knits, shown in full in our women’s knitwear edit.

What makes Brunello Cucinelli cashmere different?

Three things set it apart, and none of them is a logo. The first is colour. When the house began, coloured cashmere was a rarity, and the founder built his business by dyeing it in bright colours for women. That habit never left. The current delivery reads like a paint chart: Origano, Oyster, Butter, Pine Cone Brown, Lignite Grey, Ruby, Firebrick. Our profile of who Brunello Cucinelli is tells that founding story in full.

The second is where it is made. Production is entirely in Italy, mostly in Umbria, around the restored hamlet of Solomeo outside Perugia, where a school of arts and crafts teaches the hand skills. The third is range. The house does not make one cashmere sweater in twenty colours. It makes cashmere in several weights, several stitches and several blends, so a lightweight knit T-shirt and a heavy cable cardigan sit in the same collection and are meant to be worn together. If you want the full cardigan and sweater breakdown by shape, read our guide to Brunello Cucinelli cardigans and sweaters.

Why did coloured cashmere matter so much?

Because it changed what cashmere was for. A beige crewneck is a wardrobe staple; a cashmere sweater in Origano green is a decision. By treating colour as the point, the house made cashmere something women chose for pleasure, and that is still how the collection is designed. The neutrals are there, and they are excellent, but the colour stories are where you see the house’s hand most clearly.

The Cashmere turtleneck sweater in Origano is the clearest example this season: a classic shape in a colour few other houses would put on a turtleneck. Pair it with the Cashmere rib knit beanie in Origano and you have the tonal dressing the brand is known for. For more on choosing a hat in this fibre, see our guide to cashmere beanies.

Cashmere weights and knits: what is in the range?

Brunello Cucinelli cashmere comes in a spread of weights, from fine-gauge layers you can wear under a blazer to dense knits that do the job of a jacket. The stitch matters as much as the yarn. English rib gives a springy, deep texture; a fine jersey knit lies flat; cable and Nordic patterns add bulk and warmth.

• Lightweight: fine knits such as the Cashmere and silk lightweight sweater in Milk, made for layering and for warmer days.
• Mid-weight English rib: the Cashmere English rib sweater in Butter is 100% cashmere in English rib, the everyday sweater of the collection.
• Heavy pattern knits: the Nordic heritage cardigan in Pearl, also 100% cashmere, is the piece to wear in place of a coat on a cold weekend.
• Embellished: the Cashmere sweater with monili in Oyster carries the house’s fine bead chains, the monili, on a plain knit.

What is Diamond yarn?

Diamond yarn is the brand’s own name for a cashmere and silk yarn with a sparkle. It appears on scarves, beanies and some sweaters, and it is how the house adds light to a knit without sequins. The Cashmere and silk Diamond yarn scarf in Oyster is 70% cashmere and 30% silk, and the Diamond yarn English rib sweater in Ivory brings the same glint to a sweater. It looks quiet in daylight and catches the light in the evening, which is exactly the point. Our Brunello Cucinelli scarves guide covers every Diamond yarn colour we stock.

The blends, piece by piece

Pure cashmere is not the only answer, and the house is precise about its blends. Silk adds sheen and a lighter hand; a little nylon and polyester gives socks the strength they need at heel and toe. These are the compositions in the new Luxury Handbags delivery, taken from the product labels.

The pattern is consistent: pure cashmere where softness matters most, a measured blend where a piece needs sheen, structure and strength.

Is Brunello Cucinelli cashmere worth it?

It is a fair question, and we answer it at length in is Brunello Cucinelli worth it. The short version: you are paying for Italian production, a colour range few houses match, and design that does not date because it does not chase trends. If you wear a sweater for ten winters, that matters more than any label. If you want one piece of cashmere for a decade, start with a turtleneck in a neutral, then add colour.

The house is often called the king of cashmere in the press. For a wider view of the field, our list of the best cashmere brands puts it in context, and Brunello Cucinelli vs Loro Piana compares it with the other great Italian name.

How to care for Brunello Cucinelli cashmere

Treat it well and it will reward you. The rules are simple, and our full guide on how to wash cashmere walks through them step by step.

• Follow the care label on each piece first; silk blends and embellished knits with monili need extra gentleness.
• Wash rarely. Airing a sweater overnight refreshes it between wears.
• Dry flat on a towel, reshaped by hand. Never hang wet cashmere.
• Fold, never hang, in storage. Hangers stretch the shoulders.
• Remove pilling with a cashmere comb. It is normal in the first wears and settles down.

I keep my knits folded in a drawer with cedar blocks over the summer, and they come out each autumn as they went in.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a famous Italian cashmere brand?

Brunello Cucinelli is one of the most famous. The house was founded in 1978 in Umbria with women’s knitwear in coloured cashmere, and it still makes everything in Italy. Loro Piana is the other Italian name most often mentioned.

Who sells the best quality cashmere?

Look for houses that make in Italy and print clear compositions on every label. Brunello Cucinelli is a strong choice, and Luxury Handbags stocks its new season cashmere with the composition listed on each product page.

Is Brunello Cucinelli cashmere 100% cashmere?

Many pieces are, such as the Cashmere English rib sweater and the Nordic heritage cardigan. Others are deliberate blends with silk, wool, nylon and polyester, chosen for sheen, structure and strength. The label on each piece tells you exactly.

What is Brunello Cucinelli Diamond yarn?

Diamond yarn is the brand’s name for a cashmere and silk yarn with a sparkle. It appears on scarves, beanies and sweaters, and adds light to a knit without sequins.

How do you wash Brunello Cucinelli cashmere?

Follow the care label first. As a general rule, wash rarely, use cool water and a gentle cashmere wash, dry flat and store folded.