Cereal: Esk Cashmere

'Quality is never an accident,' said John Ruskin, English art critic and writer, ‘it is always the result of intelligent effort.’ It’s a quote that resonates with Lorraine Acornley and Stuart Maxwell.  They founded ESK Cashmere two years ago, naming it for the valley in Scotland where the company has its factory, and quickly made a name for themselves as purveyors of cloud soft cashmere sweaters and knitwear staples.  Their home collection, ESK Hause, meanwhile, features plush throws and cushions in organic hues.

ESK grew from a desire to create garments that didn’t cut corners when it came to quality. “Stuart and I were working for a mutual client,” says Lorraine, who has designed for Alberta Ferretti, JOSEPH, and Albam, among others. “When we met, we found we had similar ideas and got on really well. Stuart has been making luxury knitwear for 25 years, and he wanted to produce a collection of sweaters. I was delighted to be involved on the design side.” Lorraine sketches the collections from her studio in London and sends them to Stuart who brings them to life.