High quality scarves -cashmere/cashmere-blend

[jacketjunkie]

Ho,

I was shopping for hats yesterday and at some point I also checked the accessory section of the website I was browsing on and checked out their scarves. I do not need one at the moment, 40°C yesterday in Germany, but I like to wear scarves in the winter, so I found a Stetson scarf whose coulours would fit nicely to my brown fqhh Teamster I believe. It's a cashmere wool blend and it's fairly expensive, so I resisted for a moment and decided to inform myself on the matter before pulling the trigger. However the regular german shopping websites offer a very limited range of cashmere blend products. I found a thread at styleforum where a number of scottish and italian manufacturers were recommended, mostly pure cashmere scarves and all of them in the 300€+ range.

So I wondered, does any of you know any secret tip where to shop for good quality, good price-quality ratio scarves? After all I only found out about Aero via this forum, too.

 

[Rabbit]

Sources within the EU:

Pure cashmere scarves are indeed among the most expensive, but high quality ones don't have to cost 300€+. Those are either fashion brands or just plain overpriced (like Drakes, UK).
A good source would be Berg & Berg in Sweden (actually Norway, but they ship from Sweden for the benefit of EU customers), a new generation tie brand who have new collections each season. They carry very special Italian cashmere scarves called Zibellino, those are plain ones with a marbled texture). You won't find winter scarves there before fall. They do a sale at the end of each season which will be announced by newsletter and on the website, to the day and hour.

Personally, I think cashmere is highly overrated. It doesn't hold up too well in the long run. Wool scarves of hard-finished wool are just as good and much more affordable. Lochcarron carries all Tartans (there are about 500 Tartans) in their Lambswool scarf section. They also have cashmere, but again in Tartans, not plain ones. I can vouch for the quality of their Lambswool scarves; they're really good despite the low price. As a matter of fact, I have a good number of those stored safely that I don't need anymore, so if you want some cheap Tartan wool scarves, feel free to PM me.

Vintage silk scarves and tricel scarves can be found on eBay. With patience, you'll even find white evening silk scarves for cheap there to wear with an A-2 if that's your thing. Vendors like Darcy's Clothing UK have the standard polka dot silk scarves for a low price, and ivory silk scarves as well.

High end silk, silk-wool and fine, thin wool scarves in paisley patterns and other intricate patterns cost between 80-120€. Shibumi (Berlin) has them, so does Berg & Berg at slightly lower prices. The latter have acquired somehow different styles over the last few years, so you'll have to wait and see what each season brings.

Edit: I should add that Lochcarron carries the authentic Tartan patterns, not some modern variation. They do seem to have a few new inventions, though, in addition to the authentic ones of which there are about 500, as I said. The denominations "modern" and "ancient" are both authentic Tartans, so don't get confused over that. It refers to the dyes, modern being synthetic colors, and ancient being natural dyes (or to be more precise synthetic ones that imitate the old natural dyes).

If you absolutely must have cashmere, Woods of Shropshire has fairly decent ones for a low price.

 

[AdeeC]

Possum merino scarves are brilliant. They are light, very warm and with an incredibly soft tactile texture and similar to cashmere. Wont pil or lose shape. Made form a blend of Australian brushtail possum fur and fine merino wool. Prices quite reasonable. Can be bought online from NZ Nature and several other manufacturers from New Zealand.

 

[jacketjunkie]

Rabbit, thank you very much for the long and detailed reply, I'll check these all out in the evening and also give tartan wool a second thought.

AdeeC, thanks for the tip, I'l definitely check these out as well, this fur/wool blend sounds interesting!

 

[Rabbit]

If you prefer plain colored scarves, there are lots of shops that have them in wool. Make sure you know how wide you want the sacrf to be. 30cm is very common, 60cm would be double width, as it were. 15cm is narrow, and used on some silk scarves.

Woods has some basics here:
http://www.woodsofshropshire.co.uk/accessories-scarves/scarves/wool-scarves

 

[jacketjunkie]

I browsed through all of the scarves you linked here, thanks once more for that and I don't feel the love with the tartan patterns. Some I like but I feel they would fit better to black leather and my black jackets are all summer jackets. What also slightly bothers me is that people out there know so little, they'd probably call me out for wearing a "fake-burberry" scarf (yes I work at an environment so shallow and fashion-orientated).

I ended up ordering a Stetson cashmere scarf (I understand their hats are quite popular, hopefully the quality of their scarves is on par with that) and plain black wool scarf from Lochcarron. I'll also see whether I can find a possum merino scarf at a european dealer so I can compare between all three. I'll give feedback here once stuff arrives. Cheers!

 

[Justhandguns]

I have a Johnstons of Scotland 100% cashmere scarf for years, it is still one of the best scarf that I have ever owned. And it won't cost you an arm as well.

 

[IXL]

I browsed through all of the scarves you linked here, thanks once more for that and I don't feel the love with the tartan patterns. Some I like but I feel they would fit better to black leather and my black jackets are all summer jackets.........
Cheers!

Sounds to me like you need another leather jacket.

 

[leafandarrow]

Begg & Co has some amazing scarves, made is scotland, maticulous production methods, etc
http://www.beggandcompany.com/mens-scarves/cashmere.html

I have several, though not at that pricepoint! You can get them this time of year on the cheap from sites like eastdane.com and oconnells clothing. http://www.oconnellsclothing.com/Begg-and-Co./

Their lambswool is actually indistinguishable from cashmere, IMHO

 

[jacketjunkie]

Sounds to me like you need another leather jacket.

I am already regretting I did not pick up the Veste de Rallye that was for sale for like 350€ at the bay few months ago. I'll certainly keep an eye open in the future. I'd love to match a black fqhh jacket with Aeros Scottish Copper Harris Tweed, but I still have an open order at Aero and it feels kind of decadent to order the next jacket before this one even arrives.

 

[mihai]

I'm looking for a wool tartan scarf, rough texture, blanket like density.
I've been looking through the sites recommended above, but I was not able to find such thing.
Anybody knows any brand/store I should look for? (I'd prefer smth made in Scotland.)
Thank you

 

[Trenchfriend]

Look at the 100%-wool-scarfs from Barbour, Profuomo and store-brands at Breuninger and Peek & Cloppenburg.

The "burgundy wool print-scarf" from Profuomo is my favorite. 200 x 70mm!

 

[mihai]

Look at the 100%-wool-scarfs from Barbour, Profuomo and store-brands at Breuninger and Peek & Cloppenburg.

The "burgundy wool print-scarf" from Profuomo is my favorite. 200 x 70mm!

Thanks for the help
I'll go maybe this weekend to Koln or Saarbrucken and check out these stores. I live close to Germany's West frontier.
I saw in one of Karstadt/Kaufhoff (at ground floor) some tartan looking scarfs but they looked flimsy, unimpressive. In tone with other consumer stuff being sold everywhere.

 

[Trenchfriend]

The scarves at Karstadt and so on, I personally don't like these ("Cashmink")/Polyacryl-ones, from mostly FRAAS. They are looking fine, got a good price-value to mass-market, but its just pilling polyacrylic-quality, which will be manifesting after some times. Especially, look on the recensions at Amazon.com!

Breuninger and P&C are upper-mass-market and there the "real" scarves can be found, I tell you.

I am just happy, with my Profuomo burgundy/lila-Tartan-scarf! 50 Euro, great value!!

 

[Lean'n'mean]

I'm looking for a wool tartan scarf, rough texture, blanket like density.
I've been looking through the sites recommended above, but I was not able to find such thing.
Anybody knows any brand/store I should look for? (I'd prefer smth made in Scotland.)
Thank you

These might interest you, made in Scotland too. http://www.gretnagreen.com/clan-tartan-scarves-b17

 

[mihai]

@Trenchfriend - thanks for info and pics; it really looks great and price is reasonable enough.
@Lean'n'mean - thanks, this looks good too, price is really good compared to retail.
Maybe I'll end getting both, difficult to choose.

 

[mihai]

Passing by Saarbrucken today I took a peek at scarves sold in Peek&Clopenburg(ground floor - men's accessories dep). There was quite a variety of tartan looking ones, one of the brands was even named smth like Mac... Prices ranging from 20 to 40 euros. Touched them and they looked like wool, very fine texture. But surprise: upon closer inspection of the tag they were actually 100% acrylic.
It's beyond my understanding why even for 40 euros you can not get nice old school 100% wool tartan.
With each new year seems to me that corners are being cut esp on mass produced goods.

 

[tropicalbob]

Agreed. I suppose that's the reason we come to this forum. Personally, I always enjoy scrolling through ebay and Etsy looking at their vintage scarves. Many of the vintage ones, particularly the Tootals and the French designs of the 1930's and '40's, which are really charming and interesting, are also reasonably priced.

 

[mihai]

True, this forum offers a great deal of information. It's v helpful to make an informed decision when purchase smth like clothes/shoes related.
Thanks for the tips will check those vintage ones. Even for ones, you can find online(eBay,...) for 20-30 gbp 100% wool scarves by Scottish brands.