Le Kasha | A Century-Old French Organic Cashmere Brand, Former Fabric Supplier for Chanel, and a Hidden Gem for Classic Cashmere Basics
Founded in 1918, French cashmere brand Le Kasha uses only linen, silk, and organic cashmere fabrics, with no synthetic or blended materials. As the brand notes on its website, "Le Kasha is never using any blend but only raw and pure yarn," and even has a dedicated page explaining its fabric philosophy. For a fabric enthusiast like me, discovering this brand was a gem, especially since Lane Crawford offers it in-store for trying and purchasing. So, I’ve decided to write a review today.
Le Kasha is relatively niche in China, with only a couple of personal blog posts on platforms like Xiaohongshu, aside from posts by Lane Crawford staff.
Previously, Le Kasha was the cashmere supplier for luxury brands like Coco Chanel, Lanvin, and Patou. In 1920, Chanel used Le Kasha cashmere for its first women’s suit series, which revolutionized pre-war restrictive fashion, making women’s clothing looser, more comfortable, and fluid. Cashmere became a natural choice for this trend.
Since 2016, under the leadership of new-generation heir Mali Marciano, Le Kasha began focusing on designing and producing its own clothing line. As Mali has a passion for travel, Le Kasha also introduced a travel series. Many cashmere items are named after locations, such as Iowa and Utah in the U.S., Socotra in Yemen, the Balearic Islands in Spain, Panarea in Italy, Prague, Berlin, Montana, and Kyoto.
Her film recommendations, like "Out of Africa," "The English Patient," "The Big Blue," "The Bucket List," and "Frida," also feature local atmospheres, which resonate with me.
The price range for Le Kasha is similar to the arch4 brand I reviewed previously, with thicker cashmere sweaters priced around 800-900 USD. Overall, Le Kasha’s prices are nearly double those of alpaca knitwear brands like doen and Lauren Manoogian. A 600.
Le Kasha’s priciest item is the short jacket-style cashmere down coat, priced at over $2,500, all in one size.
Le Kasha’s summer collection consists of 100% linen, with linen dresses and pants priced between $500-800, similar to their cashmere pants. For value, it’s usually best to prioritize cashmere, as Le Kasha is known for its cashmere, certified organic by GOTS.
The summer collection also includes silk dresses and shorts, but the styles are more suited to a 40+ demographic with a formal and conservative aesthetic. The left image below shows how the website’s menu prioritizes cashmere, followed by silk and linen. Despite the varying costs of these materials, Le Kasha prices them similarly. Typically, other brands price cashmere significantly higher than linen, but it’s clear that brand markup has a larger impact than material, manufacturing, logistics, or labor costs.
Le Kasha primarily focuses on cashmere, with Lane Crawford stocking mainly cashmere items. I first noticed Le Kasha when I was exploring cashmere sweaters displayed alongside arch4 . Both brands have similar pricing, materials, and styles, all certified by GOTS and using top-tier cashmere.
When I tried them on at Lane Crawford, the cashmere had a good drape and was luxuriously soft. High-quality cashmere yarn is naturally soft without needing to be brushed. Some brands artificially fluff lower-quality, coarser yarn to make it seem softer, but these tend to feel itchy, especially after sweating. After years of cashmere purchases, I can tell that good cashmere feels comfortable against bare skin, has a natural drape, and remains soft even without fluffing, with a slight sheen.
Though my size wasn’t available, I was already sold on Le Kasha’s quality. Checking the website, I learned that Le Kasha uses Grade A white cashmere from Inner Mongolia.
Following my review of arch4 , I plan to cover Lisa Yang next. These three brands share similar designs, fabric origins, and price points, all certified by GOTS.
The GOTS certification applies to textiles with over 70% organic fibers, ensuring organic standards throughout production and sale, with emphasis on environmental and social impact. Le Kasha works exclusively with ranches focused on long-term environmental sustainability and animal welfare.
The cashmere, linen, and silk fabrics in Le Kasha’s Tissu de Cachemire series are sourced from Italy and crafted in Paris.
This article will first introduce women’s collections, followed by men’s. Like most cashmere brands, Le Kasha’s women’s cashmere line offers twice as many SKUs as the men’s.
Women
Le Kasha's cashmere offerings focus primarily on sweaters, followed by cardigans, then cashmere pants, with just five items in jackets and vests.
Sweaters
What sets Le Kasha's sweaters apart is the high-waisted design featured in many pieces. Most cashmere sweaters cover the stomach, reaching the groin, with oversized versions extending down to cover the hips. Le Kasha, however, offers cropped sweaters that pair well with high-waisted pants, creating an elongating effect on the legs.
In the Menorca collection, the high-waist sweater design stands out, especially with the fine ribbed detailing on the neckline, cuffs, and hem, which is clearly dense and tightly woven, as seen in the photos. During cold and windy autumn and winter days, I find that tighter hems prevent wind from entering, and the dense weave holds its shape better over time. In contrast, after just one season, the cuffs and hem of simpler cashmere pieces I own tend to lose their elasticity.
Other high-waisted and snug-fit series from Le Kasha include the popular Baleari mock neck sweater, the Pakur series with an extra-wide hem, and the classic cable-knit Murano series.
Most cashmere designs, whether domestic or international, feature loose hems, intended to be tucked into pants to keep out the cold. However, this look is rarely styled that way in model shots. As a result, I avoid buying sweaters with wide hems. Once, while browsing at Lane Crawford, I picked up a Le Kasha sweater for its color and texture. But after noticing its loose hem and side slits, I put it back on the rack.
The piece I saw in-store was likely from the IOWA series, characterized by a loose hem and side slits. The oversized, one-size-fits-all design, especially with voluminous sleeves, looked overwhelming for my 158cm frame. I felt this style would suit someone around 170cm to achieve the model’s look.
The Iowa sweater's silhouette, however, is well-designed with a rare trapezoidal shape, descending in two lines from the chest.
Another option is the Socotra series, a relaxed fit that, while still loose, has a closer fit than the Iowa, as it’s not one-size-fits-all and better suited to taller frames.
Compared to plain or cable knits, I prefer textured ribbed cashmere sweaters in natural hues. I own a ribbed vest, a ribbed long-sleeve, and a ribbed dress, all of which I’ve worn extensively.
A flared ribbed set: the Utah top and Banvir pants. This intentionally loose design is more suited to spring and autumn rather than as a layering staple.
Le Kasha also offers three or four turtleneck sweaters, though I don’t personally like wearing turtlenecks, so I’ll skip those. Two notable sweater lines worth mentioning are the Lening and Komaki series, both featuring unique leaf designs with hooks that can be opened.
The Komaki series is reversible; on the model, the opening is styled at the back, adding a hint of allure to a basic sweater.
The Lening series features an oversized collar, crafted from a substantial double-layer ribbed knit. This oversized collar, much like the loose hems mentioned earlier, is a common design across cashmere brands. I bought a similar alpaca sweater with a thick collar from Doen and I appreciate this style.
The leaf-shaped detailing adds a unique charm to the sweater, with the dual collars forming a shape reminiscent of an anime magic symbol or even the Tesla logo. Unfortunately, this too is a one-size piece.
Cardigan
The Monoca cardigan is Le Kasha’s best-selling cardigan, with a classic, oversized silhouette and a wide color selection. The buttons are concealed within the placket, giving it a streamlined look. The fabric drapes naturally, with a model shoulder fit and elongated cuffs for added snugness.
I also have an arch4 cashmere cardigan in a similar relaxed style, with long sleeves and a naturally draped silhouette.
Another popular option is the robe-style cardigan, which looks more like a bathrobe and is a classic Le Kasha piece. We often see bathrobe-style coats, but this was my first time seeing a robe-style cardigan.
The Bilbao cardigan, priced over €2,600, has a substantial weight of cashmere, making it one of Le Kasha’s most premium pieces, second only to the classic Dillion puffer.
The model is seen wearing the Montana cashmere vest, a unisex style which I’ll introduce in the puffer section below.
Puffer
Le Kasha does not offer cashmere coats, even their longer styles are just extended cashmere knit cardigans. However, they do have three types of cashmere puffers. Each puffer features a generously sized side pocket and a front cashmere panel divided into three sections. All pieces are one-size, and most use black snap buttons.
The Prague Puffer has a saddle sleeve design, giving the sleeves a rounded silhouette. The oversized pockets on the sides add both simplicity and practicality, and the overall oversized silhouette is intended to create a feeling of warmth and coziness in winter.
The Taos Puffer uses hidden black snap buttons for a sleeker look when closed, but it can also be worn open for a more casual look, similar to a cotton jacket. It also features zip closures and large side pockets like the Prague Puffer. The cuffs and hem are well-finished for added durability.
The Dillon Puffer is the most expensive classic model, currently sold out on the official website. This longer puffer is pricier than the Prague and Taos models. It’s available in a men’s version as well, though only in black and gray, and it’s the sole men’s puffer option.
Another unisex option is the Montana Cashmere Puffer Vest, which also comes in one size. The Montana vest is quite popular, and it’s available in a variety of colors, with the women’s range being slightly more extensive than the men’s, which still has a solid four-color selection.
Pants
Here, I’ll highlight three cashmere pants with a substantial fabric weight, as the lighter cashmere pants and shorts in the €400–€500 range are fairly basic and won’t be covered.
The Pattaya Cashmere Pants have a jogger style with a tapered leg and fitted cuffs. The cashmere used is the thickest of all Le Kasha’s pants, making it the priciest. Paired here with the Kiev Cashmere Shirt, which is the first time I’ve seen a thick-woven cashmere shirt.
The Leman Cashmere Pants are of medium thickness and also have a jogger fit with ribbed cuffs. The side of the pants features openwork detailing.
Suria Pants are wide-leg, floor-length trousers that, while impractical, exude a casual elegance typical of cashmere. Of the three styles, these are the lightest.
Miscellaneous
Le Kasha also offers some unique items rarely seen in the domestic market, such as cashmere bras and underwear.
And even cashmere pillows.
Men
Sweater
The Lette turtleneck cashmere sweater is a one-size piece and made from a heavier fabric, similar to the Hanoi cardigan described below. The collar is thickly knitted, much more substantial than any of the women’s sweaters mentioned above. Generally, men’s cashmere sweaters are crafted with more material, leading to prices that are often several hundred euros higher than similar women’s pieces.
There are also thinner options, priced around €500, such as the Kyoto and Panarea crewneck sweaters. The Panarea has a more linear cut, while the Kyoto has a subtle tapered waist design. The Panarea is a unisex style, also intended for women, though it’s probably best suited for women over 165 cm tall.
This Zeterre cable knit cardigan is another unisex piece. We found it at the Lane Crawford outlet, marked as S/M and fitting sizes from 165 cm to 170 cm. It’s priced at €1,190 (about 9,200 RMB), originally listed at Lane Crawford for 11,200 RMB, but discounted to 5,000 RMB in the outlet.
Cardigan
There are only two styles of men’s cashmere cardigans; excluding a particularly thin one, only the Hanoi series remains. This piece is simple, classic, and ribbed. The cuffs, collar, and hem are tightly knit, while the arms and midsection are looser, creating a laid-back look without emphasizing the stomach.
Pants
Overall, there are only two or three styles of men’s cashmere pants, and they tend to be on the thinner side. There are also men’s cashmere shorts available.
The UBUD series cashmere joggers have a tapered leg and side zippered pockets. The fabric is relatively thin.
The Bali series men’s cashmere pants have a more relaxed, straight-leg fit. In the image, it’s paired with the unisex Montana cashmere puffer vest, which is also covered in the women’s puffer section.
In addition to cashmere shorts, there are silk shorts available, priced similarly to those mentioned at the beginning. There are also linen pants, and as this is the men’s section, quite a few shirts. However, neither of us are fans of shirts, so we’ll skip those.
epilogue
Here's your text translated into English with Markdown formatting:
"It’s been a while since I wrote a 4000-word brand introduction, and who knew Le Kasha had so many beautiful basics! They offer more attractive styles than arch4 . From now on, I’ll write more detailed product reviews for each brand and save them on my public account. This will help avoid situations like today, where I accidentally deleted all the material I had accumulated and couldn’t retrieve it.
Writing this article also helped me clarify my preferences for cashmere sweaters: I like large collars, ribbed knits, and cuffs and hems that are tightly finished. I’m not a fan of one-size-fits-all pieces that are too loose or have non-tapered hems.
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