Crafting cashmere into beautifully made pieces which retain all the key attributes of high-quality cashmere including, a lightweight feel, exceptional softness, and remarkable ability to retain its shape, demands great skill, time and knowledge.
Over the years, at Joshua Ellis, we've mastered the art of working with this noble fibre, building a reputation for designing and manufacturing luxuriously soft accessories that are worn and adored across the world. The secret? Using unique, age-old techniques to produce cashmere like no other.
Our signature Joshua Ellis touch is our ripple finish. This distinct finishing technique is a favourite among our customers and a hallmark way to identify cashmere that offers the high-quality as promised. How do we achieve this? Continue reading to find out.
We seamlessly blend modern machinery with time-honoured techniques. For our ripple finish we use dried teasel heads, hand sourced from Italy or Spain.
Traditionally, we arrange these dried thistle-like heads in rows within two metal bars around a large revolving drum called.
The cashmere fabric is immersed in water sourced directly from the Pennine Hills. This water is perfect for the process, offering the optimum alkaline level to achieve our signature, soft to the touch ripple finish. The fabric is then wound round a large rotating drum, which when turning causes the teasels to become wet and flexible, as their delicate hooks gently brush against the cashmere.
The teasels gently brush the milled cashmere, carefully coaxing out the fibres. The key, however, lies in achieving the perfect "snap" at precisely the right moment. The teasel hooks will break off when the time is right. This delicate balance between pressure and release creates a unique textural effect – the subtle, iridescent sheen that defines premium cashmere.
While attempts have been made to replicate this process with artificial materials like wire, wood, or even plastic, none have come close. The magic lies not just in the texture of the tool, but in the natural snapping action of the teasel. This action allows for optimal manipulation of the fibres without damaging the cashmere.
So, the next time you indulge in the luxurious softness of a Joshua Ellis cashmere scarf remember the silent story it tells. It's a testament to tradition, skilled craftsmanship, and the humble teasel that plays a vital role in creating a timeless fabric.
