Are you ready to wrap yourself in the luxurious world of high-end fabrics? Follow us in this direction. Here are six of the world's most exclusive fabrics that are just waiting for you to try them out.
Leather
There's something special about how a leather jacket looks old and worn. Leather shows that you don't have to be soft and feminine to be elegant, as many other Luxury fabrics do. Leather is the best material for bags, outerwear, and shoes because it lasts for a long time. Unlike a lot of other materials, it doesn't fray, it holds color well, and a finished layer can last for years even with a lot of wear and tear. The skill and craftsmanship needed to make something out of leather is another thing that adds to its luxury status. It takes a lot of time and works to turn animal hide into the leather that can be used. It's also important to cut, sew, and shape the material into a finished product. Few people today have the skills to work with leather and make Luxury items.
Want a vegan and environmentally friendly alternative to leather? There are more and more options on the market that come from plants. For example, AppleSkin vegan leather feels just like leather in that it is soft and strong. But it is made from the apple cores and peels that are left over after apples are picked. In the same way, Natural Fiber Welding has made MIRUM, or Plant Leather, which is an alternative to leather made from plants and not petrochemicals.
Linen
Linen is a luxury fabric that has been around for almost as long as time. Linen is valued for how long it lasts, how well it breathes, and how soft it is. Linen is a must-have for survival and style in both dry places like the Middle East and humid places like Central America. Linen was first made from flax seed stalks thousands of years ago in Egypt. It has a unique texture and strength because of the plant. Aside from its usefulness, linen is considered a luxury because of how it is made. It takes a long time to soften the fibers so they can be used, and it's hard to weave linen fibers. But the result is a strong material that gets softer and more comfortable to wear with each wash. Linen is like a fine wine when it comes to Luxury fabrics: it gets better with time.
On your next summer trip, buy one or two pieces of natural linen. Get in on the wide-leg pants trend and wear a pair made of linen to naturally get rid of sweat. Linen plus a breezy silhouette? You’ll be living the dream while enjoying a boating adventure over crystal waters or witnessing rare natural beauties on a safari. Is sustainability your number one priority? Look for brands that refine the raw flax using recycled linen or methods that use little water.
Silk
Oscar de la Renta once said, "What diamonds do for the hand, silk does for the body." Do we really need to say more about the queen of exclusive fabrics? We don't have to, but we will anyway. Silk is a sign of style and elegance. Silk has been a favorite fabric of royalty and haute couture designers for hundreds of years. This fiber comes from the cocoons of silkworms. It has a natural shine that makes it stand out. It feels soft and cool against the skin in the summer and keeps heat in during the winter. It is also used to make charmeuse, chiffon, and taffeta, which are all Luxury fabrics. But don't let the shine and glitter fool you—silk is one of the strongest natural fibers in the world. Want to go to a summer party in cocktail attire that will last for years and never go out of style? Make silk your signature.
Cashmere
You didn't think we'd forget about the cozy classic of Luxury fabrics, did you? Just hearing the word "cashmere" probably made you want to wrap yourself up in its warm and soft arms. Have you ever wondered why cashmere doesn't feel like regular wool? It's all because of where it comes from goats. There are two layers of fur on a cashmere goat. One is rough on the outside, and the other is soft and thin on the inside. The goats will stay warm and dry because the second layer is not only soft but also very light and airy. This is why a cashmere layer makes you feel like you're less likely to sweat than a regular wool sweater. Cashmere doesn't wrinkle, so you always look put together.
In the last few years, clothing brands that are good for the environment have started making cashmere. These brands get cashmere from goats without hurting them in the process. Instead of shearing, they comb out the cashmere fibers and give the animals the care they need when they need it. Some of these brands, like Nadaam, also help and invest in the herder communities in Mongolia that get the cashmere from their animals. You can keep your heart and body warm with sustainable cashmere.
Vicuña Wool
Are you looking for the most Luxury fabrics in the world? Don't mess with vicuna wool. One kilogram of wool from this Andean animal costs between $399 and $600, making it the most expensive fabric in the world. It keeps you warm, is 10% lighter, and is softer and finer than cashmere. Because visual hair has microscopic scales, the fibers are very light and full of air. These scales make it easy for the threads to connect and trap heat. But we know what you really want to know.
The visual and the alpaca are related animals. They live mostly in Peru, which is in the Andes region of South America. Sacred to the Incan culture, these magnificent animals are now protected by the government because they were almost extinct not long ago. A benefit of vicuna wool, besides the fact that it is very expensive, is that the animals are not hurt when the wool is taken from them. The animals' wool is only combed once every four years, which makes the fabric even rare. Vicuna wool is the most expensive fabric in the world because of these things, as well as the unique qualities of the fiber and how hard it is to weave.
Pima Cotton
Let's be honest. You didn't think of cotton as one of the most luxurious fabrics, did you? It works out. Cotton will probably forgive you. Style guru Jil Sander once said, "Simplicity can be luxurious." Cotton is known for being light, breathable, and useful, but Pima cotton takes these qualities to a whole new level. It is the best cotton in the whole world. The fibers that make it are long and silky, which is not the case with cotton of lower quality. This makes Pima soft to the touch and less likely to get wrinkles. It also has a 50% longer life span than other types of cotton. Have we convinced you yet?
Because of these things, Pima cotton is a great choice for your closet staples. Want a quality blouse with a big bow that is also in style? Pima cotton is high-quality and stylish at the same time. Make it your best friend for life with a white Pima cotton top.
Want a little more luxury in your life? Good news. At Stitch Fix, you can choose from high-quality clothes made of linen, leather, silk, cashmere, and Pima. Start your sumptuous style adventure by taking your style quiz. Just tell your stylist to include these Luxury fabrics in your next Fix, and we'll take care of the rest.