I firmly believe that green is the new black, so this Black Friday, like many other small, independent businesses, I’m promoting investment buys rather than throwaway deals. Castanea is founded on sustainability, longevity and wearability, and I believe this is worth paying a little extra for, because in the longer term it will save you money. Buy once and buy well is a mantra more of us need to try to embrace, not only to help save our planet, but to support a thriving local economy, which makes all of our lives richer.
Cashmere is an expensive item because it’s a luxury fibre. Castanea garments are priced to reflect this quality as well as the standard of design and calibre of craftsmanship. Every individual involved in the creation of a piece of Castanea cashmere is valued, respected and rewarded, and every process painstakingly monitored so that when you purchase a lovingly made garment from Castanea, you know you’ve invested in the very best – a precious piece of unique Irish design that has care and attention embedded in every aspect of its creation.
Investment buying is about choosing something that you know you will enjoy wearing over and again. For me, one of the best luxury buys you can make is a scarf because they never go out of style and there are plenty (maybe too many!) opportunities to wear them – in this part of the world anyway. You’ll never regret spending that little bit extra on a blanket-style scarf that soothes and cocoons, while looking sumptuous and sophisticated.
Orlas blanket cashmere scarf in Midnight will warm your neck and upper body with its lavishly extra-long design. This shade of deep inky blue is extremely flattering to all skin tones, so it works perfectly worn close to the face, especially at this time of year when many of us feel we look a little peaky. It will bring warmth and colour to your complexion as much as it will heat up wind-bitten skin.
This season, I’ve introduced scarves in colourblock options too, and if your go-to outerwear is a chic camel coat, then the Jojo scarf in Lunar/Moss/Honey will make the perfect pairing. Crafted with a thick cardigan stitch for added cosiness, the tonal shades will work beautifully with warm camel, while bringing a contemporary touch to this ‘classic’shade, ensuring your look doesn’t become too staid or predictable.
The Guy cashmere hat, available in four versatile shades – Moss, Lunar, Honey and Umber – is another new design for this season. A super-cosy winter warmer made from thick, chunky, cardigan rib stitch, it’s a unisex design created to offer additional value and extra wearability., making it an ideal investment buy and a practical but luxurious gift for anyone this Christmas.
For me, an item of luxury Irish design is the gift that keeps on giving. So if you’re Christmas shopping this weekend, bear in mind that when you present someone with a thoughtfully chosen item made by an independent Irish designer, you’re putting a big smile on the face of not just the recipient, but the maker too.
Love Paula x
