Fabrics

This is a term originally created by the British Wool Textile Export Corporation. It refers to the degree of fineness, or more precisely, the length of fibre that can be spun from a pound of wool, i.e, the finer the wool, the greater its length per pound. It is now measured by thickness in Microns, a micron being a thousand of a millimetre. The ‘Super’ scale is roughly as follows:

The higher the ‘Super’ rating, the finer the cloth, and the more expensive it becomes.

Worsted is a system of spinning that uses long tightly twisted fibres, which are combed to lie parallel. The result is a strong, smooth and versatile fabric that can be made in a variety of weights according to the climate. For example, lightweight worsted wool is a very good choice for suits and trousers in warm climates or during summer. The name comes from Worstead in Norfolk, England where it was first made. 

Although Egypt still produces some of the world's finest cotton, hybrids of the original Egyptian species are now grown in a number of countries, including the USA, and also called ‘Egyptian Cotton’ There is currently no hallmark or guarantee of quality or originality other than experience, feel and touch. Egyptian Cotton is absolutely one of our favourites, and we only stock the highest quality available. 

No, this title belongs to Vicuna, which comes from the fleece of small wild animals of the same name. They belong to the llama family, and roam the high slopes in the central Andes, mostly above 5000 metres. Vicuna is the finest, softest animal fibre in the world, and the most expensive.