Brunello Cucinelli

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It’s hardly surprising that Brunello Cucinelli knows from cashmere; his luxurious namesake line is filled with the fiber, of course. And, as he shares with the Wall Street Journal today, his closet is, too: blazers, sweaters, scarves, some of which he’s had for more than 30 years and intends to pass on to future generations of lucky young Italians.

That alone explains Cucinelli’s Severe Cashmere Caretaking Rules, which we’ll summarize here: No dry-cleaning. No washing machines. Solid pieces require warm water and hand-washing, using gentle hand soap and, if you want to add a softener, it should be white vinegar. Printed or colorful pieces need cold water. No moving the garment in the water. No twisting the cashmere when you remove it; that would stretch the fiber. No drying, except for laying the pieces on a flat towel. And no direct contact with an iron. Ever. Also, if you spill something on it, no dealing with it right away. Obviously, you should wait for the offending spot to dry, then take it a specialty cleaner.

Actually, none of this stuff is obvious. But it’s excellent advice, especially when you evaluate what Cucinelli considers to be cashmere’s best quality: “It is something to save and go back to time after time. It is the feeling of an embrace.” Because in a world where style knows no bounds, it’s not just a sweater — it’s a lover.