Our Materials

Learn More About Our Cashmere

Exquisite Softness

Cashmere is often referred to as the "fiber of kings" due to its unparalleled softness and luxurious feel

Each sweater made from cashmere offers a cloud-like touch against the skin

Sourced from the High Altitudes

The fibers are sourced from single-origin areas in Inner Mongolia's high plateaus of Alashan region and Tibet, where the most exquisite and luxurious Cashmere in the world is found

The yarn’s unique softness comes from the traditionally herded Hircus cashmere goats who have adapted to the region’s high plateau and rigid climate

Remarkable Warmth

Despite being lightweight and incredibly soft, cashmere is up to eight times warmer than regular wool

Labor-Intensive Harvesting:

It takes the fleece of multiple goats to produce a single sweater

The fibers are carefully combed by hand during the molting season

Ensuring no harm to the animals while obtaining the highest quality fibers

Natural Breathability

Cashmere is highly breathable, regulating body temperature, so it’s as comfortable in mild weather as it is in the winter

This versatility makes it ideal for layering or wearing on its own.

Durability Meets Luxury

While cashmere is delicate to the touch, it is highly durable

With proper care, cashmere sweaters retain their shape, softness, and luster for years, becoming an enduring wardrobe staple.

Learn More About Our Suede

Durable Yet Supple

Suede is renowned for its durability, offering strength and resilience, yet it retains a soft, supple texture

This combination makes suede perfect for jackets that need to stand up to everyday wear while feeling luxurious

Aging Gracefully

Over time, suede develops a natural patina, adding character and uniqueness to the jacket

Each jacket tells its own story, becoming more personal with age and wear, much like a vintage piece with timeless appeal

Crafted by Artisans

The production of suede jackets often involves skilled craftsmanship

Artisans meticulously treat and tan the leather to achieve the perfect softness and texture

This dedication to quality ensures each jacket is a masterpiece

Breathability and Comfort

Despite its rugged appearance, suede is breathable, offering comfortable wear even in different weather conditions

This makes it an ideal choice for those looking for both style and practicality

Naturally Weather-Resistant

While suede is known for its softness, cowhide suede offers a natural resistance to the elements

With proper care, it can repel light moisture and resist the elements, adding to the jacket’s longevity

Timeless Style

Suede jackets have been a fashion staple for decades, transcending trends

From vintage-inspired designs to modern cuts, the material’s versatility allows for a wide range of styles, making it an essential piece for any wardrobe

Learn More About Our Merino

Unparalleled Softness

Merino wool is prized for its incredibly fine fibers, making it much softer than traditional wool

This ensures that your sweaters are comfortable, itch-free, and luxurious to the touch

Temperature Regulation

Merino wool is a natural insulator

It keeps you warm in cold weather while remaining breathable in warmer conditions, making it ideal for year-round wear

Moisture-Wicking Properties

Merino wool can absorb up to 30% of its weight in moisture without feeling damp, keeping you dry and comfortable even during active wear

This natural moisture management system sets Merino apart from synthetic materials

Odor Resistance

Thanks to its natural antimicrobial properties, merino wool resists the buildup of odors, allowing you to wear it multiple times between washes—perfect for those on the go

Sustainable and Eco-Friendly

Merino wool is a renewable resource, with sheep producing new fleece every year. Plus, it’s biodegradable, breaking down naturally in the environment, which aligns with sustainable fashion values

Durability and Strength

Despite its softness, merino wool is incredibly strong and resilient

It’s naturally elastic, allowing the sweater to maintain its shape over time, ensuring longevity and consistent wear

Learn More About Our Wool

Rich Heritage

Italian wool is renowned for its centuries-old tradition of craftsmanship

The techniques used in wool production are passed down through generations, with a focus on quality and innovation, making Italian wool among the finest in the world

Sustainable Practices

Many Italian wool mills prioritize sustainability, using eco-friendly processes that respect nature, such as recycling water and using natural dyes

This aligns with modern trends toward conscious fashion

Luxurious Softness

Italian wool, especially from regions like Biella, is known for its exceptional softness, fine texture, and lightweight feel, making it perfect for premium outerwear like peacoats

Superior Insulation

Despite being lightweight, Italian wool provides excellent thermal insulation

It keeps you warm without the bulk, which is why it's favored for winter garments, offering both functionality and elegance

Versatility in Design

Italian wool is highly versatile and can be spun into various finishes, from lightweight, smooth fabrics to more textured or tweed-like materials, giving your peacoats a timeless, sophisticated look.

Global Prestige

Italian wool is a hallmark of luxury, often used by top fashion houses and designers worldwide

Wearing a garment made from Italian wool carries a sense of prestige and refinement

There is a Beauty in Knowing Where Something Comes From...

Every fabric tells a story—a journey of heritage, craftsmanship, and an uncompromising pursuit of excellence. At Sterling Saint James, our commitment to quality begins at the source. From the rolling hills of Italy to the artisanal tanneries of Tuscany and the legendary mills of Biella, we seek out the finest materials, working with master craftsmen who have spent generations perfecting their art.

Whether it’s the meticulous process behind our hand-selected goatskin suede, the unparalleled softness of extra fine Merino wool, or the refined elegance of Italian-spun cashmere, each material is chosen with purpose. Our sourcing stories go beyond luxury—they embody sustainability, tradition, and the relentless pursuit of perfection.

Explore the origins of our fabrics and the artisans behind them—because true craftsmanship begins long before a garment is made.

Learn More

Saint James Suede

The sourcing process for our goatskin suede from Italy is a meticulous journey rooted in tradition, quality, and sustainability. We begin by partnering with family-run tanneries that have honed their craft for generations, primarily located in the Tuscany and Veneto regions—areas renowned for their leather craftsmanship. These tanneries source ethically-raised goats, ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare and environmental responsibility.

The hides are treated with age-old tanning methods, using a combination of vegetable-based solutions and modern precision techniques to achieve the soft, velvety texture that defines premium suede. Each hide undergoes rigorous inspection to ensure it meets our standards for consistency, durability, and touch.

Once selected, the suede is dyed in small batches, allowing for a rich and even color saturation, with natural pigments that reflect the timeless elegance of Italian design. The finished product is supple, lightweight, and breathable—perfectly suited for crafting garments that embody sophistication and enduring quality.

Extra-Fine Merino

The sourcing process for extra fine Merino wool is a pursuit of the world’s finest fibers, combining innovation with tradition. It begins with sourcing ultra-soft Merino wool from ethical farms, primarily in Australia and New Zealand, renowned for producing the highest-quality fleeces. These farms prioritize sustainable practices and the well-being of their sheep, ensuring fibers that are not only luxurious but responsibly produced.

The raw Merino wool is shipped to Italy, where it is entrusted to renowned mills, primarily in the Biella region—a global epicenter of textile craftsmanship. Here, the wool undergoes a meticulous cleaning and combing process to remove impurities and isolate the finest, most delicate fibers. The result is yarn that is incredibly lightweight, smooth, and soft to the touch.

The spinning and finishing process is carried out with unparalleled precision, blending cutting-edge technology with the artistry of Italian expertise. Each batch of Merino yarn is dyed using eco-friendly methods, producing vibrant yet natural tones that enhance the wool’s innate elegance. The result is an extra fine Merino fabric that is breathable, resilient, and impossibly soft—embodying the essence of Italian luxury and perfect for creating garments of timeless sophistication.

Grade A Cashmere

The fibers are meticulously sourced from single-origin areas in the high plateaus of Inner Mongolia's Alashan region and the remote landscapes of Tibet—renowned for producing the world’s most exquisite and luxurious cashmere. These regions, with their extreme seasonal temperatures and vast open pastures, provide the ideal environment for raising cashmere goats that yield the finest, longest, and softest fibers available.

At the heart of this process are the traditionally herded Hircus cashmere goats, a breed that has adapted over centuries to the region’s harsh climate. Enduring bitterly cold winters and scorching summers, these goats naturally develop an exceptionally fine undercoat to protect themselves from the elements. It is this downy underlayer, carefully hand-combed during the spring molting season, that forms the foundation of our ultra-soft and lightweight cashmere.

Each fiber undergoes a meticulous selection process, ensuring only the highest-grade cashmere is used to produce yarns with unparalleled softness, warmth, and durability. This dedication to traditional herding methods and sustainable sourcing allows us to create garments that not only embody refined luxury but also honor the timeless art of cashmere craftsmanship.

Italian Wool

The sourcing process for Italian wool is a testament to craftsmanship, heritage, and a commitment to exceptional quality. It begins in the lush hills of Italy, where local sheep farms prioritize ethical practices and sustainable grazing methods to produce premium raw wool. These farms work closely with artisans and mills, some of which have been operating for centuries, passing down their expertise through generations.

The raw wool is carefully collected and sent to renowned textile regions like Biella and Prato, where it undergoes a meticulous sorting process. Only the finest fibers, known for their softness, durability, and elasticity, are selected. The wool is then cleaned and refined using advanced techniques that preserve its natural properties while enhancing its luxurious texture.

Spinning and weaving take place in small, family-owned mills that blend traditional handcrafting methods with cutting-edge machinery. Each batch is carefully monitored to ensure consistent quality and unparalleled softness. The wool is dyed using eco-conscious processes, achieving rich, vibrant hues that retain their brilliance over time.