You don’t have to search far on the internet to find information about the history of the cashmere stole or “luxury” stole.
What you will also find is a variety of stories about the cashmere stole and its origins.
To keep it brief, cashmere shawls were regarded as the epitome of high fashion in the 19th century.
It’s around this time that the well-known and famous Paisley pattern was established. Paisley, a town in the west central Lowlands of Scotland, is thought to be one of, if not THE first town to manufacture cashmere ‘Paisley’ shawls, similar to those brought back from Egypt by Napoleon Bonaparte.
In 1842 Paisley was home to around 7,000 weavers and the work they did making these cashmere stoles became so popular, that even the great Queen Victoria ordered one.
In the latter half of that century, the popularity of cashmere stoles fluctuated somewhat as different trends came and went. Women's wardrobes developed too and there was a common belief that it was becoming more and more impractical to wear a shawl draped over one's shoulders.
The cashmere shawl is usually a square or triangular piece of material that’s traditionally worn by women across their shoulders, over the top of their dresses, or, as an additional layer of warmth.
It is not unusual to this day to see shawls worn by both men and women in both Asia and the Far East.
Cashmere stole: moving through the years
You have to go back even further than the 1800s for its first appearance on these shores. The item of clothing is believed to have arrived in Europe around the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, following the development of British interest in the region(s). From this period, Persia and Kashmir became great rivals in the production of finely embroidered and woven fabrics.
What’s clear through our work and research over the years is that the cashmere stole has a timeless appeal to it.
We now see cashmere stoles in a variety of colours from basic to more event specific. The younger and more stylish lady may opt for a brighter colour, while the person who decides to wear it, in say, the working environment, may choose the more traditional less extravagant colour range.
Established in 1767 we have been in existence for almost as long as the cashmere stole, and remain at the forefront of producing the finest woollen cashmere cloth and scarves.
The cashmere stole is made from natural fibres and each fibre is treated with the respect it deserves. Our work is then exported from our family owned Yorkshire mill to over 23 countries worldwide.
Every one of our stoles goes through at least 21 different processes before it is deemed perfect for sale, and perfect for you.
Our latest range of cashmere stoles can be found here, or, if you have a question for a member of our team about this article, cashmere stoles, or any of our products, get in touch, it would be great to hear from you.
