Autumn/ Winter 2024
Introducing the Laura Chambers Autumn / Winter 2024 collection. Given the world we live in Laura could not help but reflect on her memories of more innocent and happier times, her childhood. Her primary school uniform she wore while attending Bayside Primary School influenced the tones of grey and pillar box red. The endless hours day dreaming playing dress up and her young love of ballet resulted in the use of the softer ethereal tones such as the softest of pink - aptly named tutu, porcelain blue and light snow grey.
This season the Sabrina cardigan is a new design - oversized and in a beautiful 4 ply cashmere, with velvet ribbon detail optional down the centre back, this is a versatile and luxurious piece that will take you from day to night.
“ Each piece of cashmere is designed and hand loomed in Dublin by our brilliant knitters. One of the main objectives since creating the brand in 2016 was to create a product that is designed and made in Ireland. I endeavour to elevate my customers wardrobe with beautiful, soft and light cashmere in classic designs that are cocoon like - worn lovingly and making memories for many years to come
Our cashmere as always is of the highest quality as we use cashmere from Scottish spinners Todd and Duncan and the Italian cashmere spinners Cariaggi. A guarantee for outstanding softness and durability while emphasising sustainable herding and grazing practices and high standards of animal welfare.
I hope you enjoy wearing this collection as much as I have loved designing and making it all here in Dublin “
Laura x
The Brand
Laura Chambers - feel good cashmere, hand loomed in Dublin using the highest quality Scottish and Italian cashmere to elevate and colour your everyday.
With a focus on beautiful, relaxed knitwear designed in sublime cashmere, in a spectrum of colours with incredible depth and vibrancy that will lift your spirits and inject bold colour into your wardrobe.
Our designs are classic in shape with a casual but modern design aesthetic. Each garment is given a twist with unusual block colour combinations and small but individual details on cuffs or necklines. Because each piece is hand loomed and hand finished the feel of the finished garment is one that is not the same as a factory produced cashmere.
The Designer
Laura Chambers Cashmere began when I started casually knitting for myself after I closed my womenswear boutique, Tulle, Dublin, back in 2008. I really missed wearing good quality knitwear in fresh, bright colours, which my boutique had become synonymous with.
I ordered some yarn and started making pieces for myself on my knitting machine, which was last used when I was studying for my BA in fashion in NCAD in Dublin. This grew to knitting for family and friends and in 2016 I decided to take it to the next level and Laura Chambers the brand was born.
My focus has always been on beautiful, feel good knitwear made with Scottish cashmere, hand loomed in Dublin with love to elevate and colour my customers everyday.
The Cashmere
We use the finest quality Scottish Cashmere from Todd & Duncan in all of our pieces. Todd and Duncan is a long-established mill that dates back to 1867 and they were among the first to start spinning fine cashmere fibre. They are to this day Cashmere specialists from hand, to machine.
The cashmere they use originates from mountain dwelling goats that have adapted to the extreme temperatures of the Gobi Desert. Traditionally, farmers would collect cashmere fibre by ceremonially combing their goats in the spring.
Combing is still widely used today, alongside some farmers who prefer shearing. Cashmere goats are usually tended by nomadic cashmere farmers. Animal welfare, sustainability and traceability are the three pillars of the cashmere industry’s ethical sourcing initiatives.
Todd and Duncan work in partnership with their approved de-hairers; they encourage sustainable herding and grazing practices, promote high standards of animal welfare, and work to protect the traditional way of life within nomadic communities.
Todd & Duncan create heirloom-quality cashmere yarn that demands care and craftsmanship at every stage of the journey. Considering knitting performance, feel, pilling and lifespan. Their traditional methods always deliver superior results.
The Todd & Duncan mill is situated on the banks of Loch Leven, using the soft Scottish water that is essential to the look and feel of their cashmere.
The water’s natural purity and softness helps to open up the cashmere fibres, resulting in wonderfully consistent colour, and the Todd & Duncan handle for which they are renowned for. They dye the fibre before it’s spun, a gentle process that gives a superior colour result and finished handle. Their dyes are environmentally friendly, so the water used can be cleaned and returned back to Loch Leven once dyeing is complete.
The Hand Looming
We're very proud that all of our pieces are lovingly hand-loomed in Dublin, Ireland. The pieces in our collection are produced on a limited run and are made if and when they are ordered. Because each piece is hand loomed and hand finished our cashmere does not feel like a cashmere garment that has been mass produced in a factory setting.
All of our products are made by expert knitters that have many years’ experience, honing their craft and skills in order to create beautiful products. As our products are made locally in Dublin, it allows for a very hands on and experimental design and manufacturing approach.