Strathberry 100% Cashmere Travel Wrap

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Kitty (@kittiemui)

Where I got it

My first Strathberry purchase was 5 years ago when I got my East/West and then the Allegro Midi and some cardholders 2 years later, and my last purchase from them was the Ace mini 2 years ago. I already know that they do cashmere pieces and I thought they looked really luxe and soft, but back then I could not justify over $200 for a scarf and I haven’t learnt to appreciate high quality, luxurious materials like cashmere. Recently,  I was gifted my first-ever cashmere piece and it was a heavenly soft and lightweight scarf I have been on a hunt for more of this amazing softness! I am approaching my 40s and I have only started to explore how I should elevate my wardrobe with timeless, luxurious pieces that will stand the test of time. I would pay more for good quality and less for fast fashion and trends that will not last and not look good on me.

I have purchased Strathberry handbags (East/West) and leather accessories previously and I loved them. They are high quality and wear very well. They have seasonal sales every now and then so when I saw in one of their sale emails and saw the cashmere scarf and travel wrap on sale, I checked it out immediately. The travel wrap comes in 4 colours, but only navy was on sale at 40% off from USD$275 (NZD$416). So it comes down to USD$165 (NZD$250). The exchange rate can vary the price very slightly. Delivered by FedEx and was delivered from Galashiels, UK in 7 days.

What I got

This is the Strathberry 100% Cashmere Travel Wrap in Navy. Designed and handcrafted in Scotland from the finest yarns in small independent workshops with generations of expertise, the new Strathberry Cashmere Collection features gorgeous scarves and hats as well as luxurious capes and sumptuously soft blankets. Perfect to snuggle up with this winter while working from home, or to wrap up in style on our cold socially distanced walks! Made from 100% cashmere for a sumptuous soft feel, the Strathberry Travel Wrap offers a stylish way to stay warm and stay chic. Timeless and versatile, this luxurious piece can be worn both as a scarf or wrapped around the shoulders. Width: 65cm (25.6″). Height: 195cm (76.8″).

How I find it

I contacted Strathberry in regards to the quality of their cashmere and their Travel Wrap is a 2-ply grade A cashmere, medium weight 12gg. So I did some research about Cashmere wool and the jargon used to determine the quality of a piece.

• Grade defines the thickness and length of hairs on the fibre. Ranging from A to C, A being the highest quality (soft and durable) and expensive, C being lower quality is thicker, less durable and less expensive. Grade A is 14-15mm microns (diameter) with a length of 34-36mm. Grade B is 19 microns. Grade C is around 30 microns.
• Ply is the number of cashmere threads twisted together to make the yarn. 2-ply is 2 twisted threads, 3-ply is 3 twisted threads, etc. Anything 2-ply or higher is more durable and less likely to develop holes. Higher piles such as 4-ply add additional weight, but not does not necessarily mean higher quality (but of course means higher price).
• Gauge (gg) refers to the number of stitches or rows per inch and is a measure of how tightly the item is knitted. The higher the gauge number, the more cashmere yarn is used and the more dense and warm it is. Cashmere items commonly knit in 7 gauge are scarves and wraps, while sweaters and blankets are often knit in 12 gauge.

You should be able to find this information on the retailer or manufacturer’s website, otherwise, you can always email and ask them directly. You can also tell by the price of an item and how the item feels on your skin. Good quality cashmere should feel light and incredibly soft to the touch. It should not scratch or itch the skin. If you are able to stretch a small section of the fabric and it bounces back, you’ve got a high-quality piece.

OK, now back to the Strathberry Travel Wrap

The garment was presented in a sturdy, flat cardboard box with the Strathberry name embossed in gold lettering. Inside, the travel wrap was wrapped in black tissue paper with a little care booklet. The travel wrap is really soft and in medium weight. It is a good thickness and has a really good stretch that bounces back immediately. It is massive at almost 2m long and 650mm wide. The Strathberry logo is quite large at the corner in a white background as well so you really cannot miss it.

The large size means that I can wear this as a wrap around my body without any problems. The thickness of this wrap is perfect for a travel wrap where you want warmth, but still lightweight and it is not easy to stretch or warp. The edges are robust and will not warp or distort. The length may be a little too long to wear as a daily scarf so you would need to wrap it at least once around your neck/shoulders and that would be pretty warm. As a single layer to drape over my shoulders, this wrap will cover my entire back and arms. It is great over a single layer of clothing on a cool spring day.

The deep navy colour is almost black and is super easy to pair with a lot of other colours – white, grey, black, beige, caramel, etc. Looks great for autumn/winter and is such a beautiful accessory to warm up your outfit while looking chic and sophisticated. I would definitely take this on the plane or a day trip car ride!

I mentioned about cashmere care in a previous blog post on my first cashmere scarf (here), I like to store my pieces folded and laid flat in a sturdy cardboard box. I air out the item flat each time I wear it and it can be hand washed at home if required. I have since bought a cashmere care pack from an NZ-based cashmere brand (Elle + Riley) which has a cashmere shampoo, cashmere deodoriser, cashmere comb and cedar blocks for keeping moths at bay.

If I wear it as a scarf, I can just gather the width of the wrap and just loop it around my neck, or I can carefully fold the scarf for a neater look and wrap it around my neck when I need more warmth around my neck/chest area.

Overall

Strathberry has recently launched a new range of cashmere pieces including scarfs, travel wraps, ponchos, capes, cashmere-lined leather gloves, beanies, handbags, etc. The colours and designs are so gorgeous and are actually reasonably priced (NZD$136 – NZD$1,035). The Travel Wrap available is still the same size and design as the one I bought. However. It is not recycled cashmere, not new cashmere. It is still 100% cashmere, but I’m not sure how the quality is. I am so glad that I grabbed the last few travel wraps at $250 that are of 100% new cashmere. I’d honestly wait for a sale again to try and pick up a good bargain.

I am 100% satisfied with the quality of this travel wrap. It is soft and smooth, not rough on the skin and it has a nice weight. I love the size so I can use it as a light blanket for travelling and I can wrap this around my kids as well to keep them warm. I would prefer a low-key brand logo, even if the patch is a darker colour instead of white. Looking forward to another piece from Strathberry and my next piece of cashmere!