Royal Speyside Classic Zip Cashmere Sweater

The diffusion line of a renowned Scotland-based mill, Royal Speyside employs traditional methods and machinery to produce knitwear reminiscent of the Scottish Borders area. Which makes sense: The mill has been producing textiles here, on the banks of the River Teviot, for more than 140 years, with a focus on cashmere and wool. This classic half-zip turtleneck sweater is made of 100-percent 2/28 cashmere, which has a wonderfully soft, luxurious texture, and despite its light weight, offers more warmth than wool. The slim-fitting design can be worn under or blazer or over a base layer, and offers effortless style and versatility without bulk.

Named for an old spelling of Kashmir, where its production and trade originated, cashmere comes from the soft, downy undercoat of goats bred to produce wool. It takes the fleece of more than two goats to make a single two-ply sweater, and the labor-intensive process involves combing and separating the coarser protective top coat from the undercoat by hand. As a result, cashmere has a much lower global production rate than wool, and pure cashmere garments are harder to find.

To help your garment preserve its shape and softness for years to come, gently hand wash in lukewarm water—and take care not to rub the fabric too much, as this may cause shrinkage and increase pilling. Rinse the garment in cool clean water, squeezing gently without twisting or wringing. A short light spin in a spin dryer will help remove most of the water. Then smooth the garment back into shape, gently coaxing any facings or trims back to the correct size, and dry naturally away from direct heat (ideally flat on a clean towel). When dry, press lightly with a cool iron.