While New Zealand’s merino is prized for light and warm properties, you can’t go past cashmere for taking those qualities up a notch.
Known as the height of luxury, the yarn sourced from cashmere goats is incredibly soft, and when cared for well, cashmere garments and accessories will remain in your wardrobe for years.
With its new ‘Beneath the Surface’ Winter collection, New Zealand label Elle & Riley is elevating that incredibly plush hand-feel even further with a brushed cashmere range.
Pieces are created using a technique where cashmere garments are delicately groomed to raise the surface fibers, resulting in a softer, cloud-like texture. The approach is still as durable as other knits, but gives it an incredibly fluffy and airy finish. It wont itch or shed and breathes beautifully so you don’t overheat.
The brushed cashmere range includes a number of elegant pieces from a relaxed sweater and tee to a longline jacket, A-line skirt, wrap and a beanie. Though this year’s collection extends the colours available significantly from the one or two offered previously, the stand-outs have to be the deep burgundy and neutral ‘walnut’ hues.
Elle & Riley was started by Aucklanders Elle Pugh and her mother Yolande Ellis back in 2016. Their aim was to create luxury knitwear you want to hold on to, with timeless style but also evolving each season with fashion-led colours and shapes.
The cosy yarn is ethically-sourced from cashmere goats raised in the Himalayas and combed delicately from the goat by local artisans to ensure only premium fibres are collected.
The sweaters and cardigans are stunning, but the layering pieces and accessories, including wraps, gloves and sock absolutely should not be missed either.
The ‘Beneath the Surface’ winter 2025 collection is available now.
