5 Things I’ve Learned as a Cashmere Designer

Working as a cashmere designer has taken me through studios, factories, sampling rooms, Zoom calls, and conversations with founders at every stage of growth. Cashmere is luxurious, emotional, and wonderfully complex — and designing with it has taught me far more than how to create a beautiful sweater. Here are the five biggest lessons I’ve learned as a cashmere specialist working with brands around the world.

1. “Quality” is hard to define — but everyone knows when it’s there

One of the first things I learned is that “quality” means something slightly different to every brand. Some focus on handfeel, others on fibre length, stitch consistency, or the longevity of a garment after repeated wear.

But while quality is difficult to define, everyone recognises it.
And everyone wants it.

That’s why being a cashmere designer requires an eye for nuance: yarn selection, tension, gauge, stitch structure, finishing, and how all these elements interact. Quality isn’t a single choice — it’s a chain of tiny decisions. When these decisions are aligned, the result is a sweater that feels effortless, luxurious, and long-lasting.

2. Most clients think they just need a tech pack, but they usually need a partner

A common misconception is that a knitwear tech pack is all you need to get a cashmere style into production. In reality, a tech pack is only one part of the process. Brands, especially those adding knitwear for the first time or start-ups, need guidance across development, sampling, fit, yarn choice, and communication with the manufacturer.

What they’re really looking for is a trusted partner:
Someone who understands how to translate creative direction into technical clarity, avoid unnecessary sampling rounds, and spot issues before they become expensive problems.

This is where a true cashmere specialist makes all the difference.

3. Putting yourself out there is terrifying at first but the internet is full of kind people

Sharing my work, my ideas, my perspective… absolutely terrifying at the beginning. Designers aren’t always taught to be visible; we’re taught to let the product speak.

But once I started showing up online, I discovered the opposite of what I feared: people are generous, curious, encouraging, and eager to learn more about knitwear. Opening up about the process of designing cashmere has helped me connect with brands, manufacturers, and other creatives I would never have met otherwise.

4. Cashmere sits at the perfect intersection of technical, commercial, and artistic

This is why I love it.

Designing cashmere requires technical skill — the right tension, stitching, and fibre knowledge. It requires commercial awareness — understanding margins, price points, customer expectations, and brand positioning. And it requires artistic vision — proportion, silhouette, colour, and the emotional experience of wearing something truly beautiful.

Very few materials demand all three. Knitwear does, and that’s what keeps it endlessly inspiring.

5. Your network really is your net worth, cliché, but true

The cashmere world is small, and relationships matter. Manufacturers, yarn suppliers, other designers, technical experts — the right connections open the right doors. Some of my most meaningful collaborations have come through simple conversations, mutual introductions, or long-standing industry friendships.

The cashmere space rewards generosity, collaboration, and genuine rapport. When you nurture your network, your work gets stronger and so do the opportunities that come your way.

If you’re exploring cashmere for the first time, need support with knitwear development, or want a clearer path from design to production, I’m always happy to connect.