Harrisons' Multi-Millionaire Cashmere suit

By Film Noir Buff

The whole world is in love with luxury. If there is one uniting principle amongst the world’s consumer elite, it is a cosmopolitan agreement on the principles of good living and the philosophy of Luxe. Luxe embodies the term hip; it also embodies the best in materials, design, construction and finish. Luxe is nothing less than a new, visual lingua franca which commands respect and admiration wherever you travel.

Cashmere is one of those Luxe items the world has recently decided to oversubscribe. And what of those voices that claim cashmere is too fragile for a suit? They are nothing more than a plague borne on the wings of an earlier age before advances in technology perfected the process of weaving worsted cashmere to give depth and strength to the fabric. The world moves on, what was once true is now no longer.

But in spite of the advances in looming strong cashmere suit cloth, there are those who still think it frivolous due to its earlier reputation for fragility. To add to the confusion, there are indeed low grade cashmere fabrics marketed as luxury goods. These factors serve to perpetuate avoidance myths for men’s suits made from cashmere. Prepare for the myth to be put to the test.

I had a suit made up of Harrisons Multi-Millionaire fabric which is Pure Worsted Spun Cashmere with a small percentage of Vicuna-reminding me that there is cashmere and then there is Luxe-cashmere. Harrisons selects the highest quality Mongolian cashmere and employs a spinning process for both yarn refinement and weaving of the cloth which makes for impressive fabric strength.

Harrisons’ Multi-Millionaire Cashmere is buttery soft but has a tight weave and a smooth finish. Weighing in at 10 ounces per yard, it has enough body to make it substantial and presumably hard wearing.

Available in a white chalk stripe on black, navy, charcoal, a more closely spaced chalk stripe on grey, navy or a mottled mocha brown and a variety of other pin stripes, including blue on navy and purple on navy. Of course, the standard plain weave, sharkskin and self herringbone solids are also available in several shades of grey, navy and black.

The cloth color and pattern I chose is a navy with a pink chalk stripe; achieved by a mixture of pink and white in the stripe and subtle enough to be unnoticeable as pink until closer inspection.

This is English taste translated into a more modern, international fabric and finish. Although it is hard to picture the English themselves wearing this quality it satisfies the current desire for English taste combined with a global pursuit of Luxe which is part of the trumping game played out in offices from New York City to Tokyo to Milan and Bahrain.

Harrisons’ Multi-Millionaire Cashmere is an interesting cloth because it blends the images of successful captain of industry, old money scion and dandy. Rarely do we see so many intersects in a single series of cloth. Further, the cloth “crossroads” the traditionalist’s fabric colors and texture with a “hip” handle. To explain a “hip” handle simply imagine that any woman putting her hand on your arm, around your waist or on your back while you wearing this fabric will be loathe to remove it. Women love cashmere-and if you happen to be the animal wearing it, you will reap the whirlwind.

Worn to dinner with an Acorn fabric shirt in varied blue stripes with occasional white and pink ones as well and white collar and double cuffs, a pink with blue spots Cravats 350 thread count necktie, gold and enamel Duchamp cufflinks and a blue with white rings Turnbull and Asser pocket square. Dark brown suede cap toes and navy wool socks were the natural choice. The outfit was selected for an appearance at Daniel in NYC and is decidedly on the old-boy-hip part of the spectrum.

I made mine up for social occasions although this may be worn to the office if you have enough clout both personal and within your firm to carry it off. A single breasted, one button, peak lapel jacket with turn back cuffs on the sleeve. Pants were reverse pleat with a Daks style waist adjuster.

Incidentally, My tailor loved this fabric and told me it was a dream to work with, a term he rarely employs. I put turn back cuffs on the jacket sleeves to give the suit a more old world feeling. Note in the photo that the stripes from turnback cuff to sleeve arm are not in alignment. This is due to the fabric which was so fine that in order to achieve making the cuff noticeable my tailor decided on a slight break in continuity.

I will endeavor to put this suit through more than ordinary paces to gauge the amount of wear and tear it can sustain in the field. Stay tuned for an update.. In the meantime, dandies, grab your martini glasses and cigars…

  1. — bcjohn    Jan 15, 10:26    #

    Can you tell me where I can get the pink tie in the pictures. It is very nice and I am looking for something just like it.


  2. — FNB    Jan 16, 10:57    #

    That is a Cravats tie in 350 count silk and I last saw it at H. Herzfeld in NYC:

    118 E 57TH St
    New York, NY 10022-2601
    Phone: (212) 753-6756


  3. Timothy    Jul 26, 18:41    #

    I have seen very few turnback cuffs. I would be interested in seeing where else they occur as I like the style very much.


  4. — SJK    Jun 15, 03:05    #

    Great article- even better suit. Sharp dude style !


  5. — maynerd    Aug 3, 05:46    #

    Look forward to the update.

    PS. how does it compare to Harrisons 150s wool Grand Cru?


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