KHAITE Materials Guide 2026: Cashmere, Double-Faced Wool, Velvet and Leather Decoded
Scroll to the bottom of any KHAITE product page and there's a short line most shoppers skip: Material and Care. Dense heritage cashmere. Felted cashmere. Holiday velvet. Cashmere suede. Each phrase is a clue to why one black sweater costs $2,400 and the one next to it costs $3,600.
Learn to read those words and KHAITE stops looking like a wall of expensive black and charcoal. It becomes a set of very specific choices about weight, warmth, drape and upkeep. We went through the fabrics and leathers on the US store in October 2026, read each listing's material and care notes, and translated them into what they mean when you're actually wearing the piece.
Who This Guide Is For
It's for anyone about to spend four figures on one piece and wanting to be sure it suits their life: the commuter who needs a coat that holds its shape, the person who runs warm and dreads a heavy knit, the shopper wondering whether "specialist cleaning" will be a hassle. Prices below are the US prices on khaite.com when we checked.
Cashmere: Four Words, Four Different Sweaters
KHAITE doesn't just say "cashmere." It tells you which kind, and that word predicts how the knit will feel on a cold morning.
- Robust Italian cashmere. The Kelly Sweater ($2,400) is a rib-stitched turtleneck the brand calls substantial in weight and plush in texture, with fluted cuffs. Its care label lists dense cashmere chain, 100% cashmere, dry clean.
- Dense heritage cashmere. The Gemma Sweater ($2,400), here in a soft artichoke green, is described as a KHAITE signature spun in Italy and cherished for its compact, velvety softness. It's the crewneck you'd reach for most days.
- Felted cashmere. The Ewa Sweater ($3,600) is hand-knitted and oversized, and KHAITE describes the felted yarn as a balance of luscious softness, dense dimension and enduring warmth.
- Lofty cashmere. On other styles, KHAITE uses "lofty" for its lightest knits, ones it describes as "at once luscious and weightless."
Buy this if: you want the Kelly for real cold and the Gemma for everyday layering. All of these are dry clean, so budget for that.
Double-Faced Wool and Cashmere: The Coat Fabric
For outerwear, KHAITE keeps returning to double-faced cloth, and the Jelson Coat ($3,900) listing explains why: the fabric "holds its shape while remaining lofty." The Jelson is a close-fitting double-faced wool coat with padded shoulders and a wide sash belt; only sizes 0 and 2 were left when we checked.
At the top of the range, the Sonti Coat ($11,500) swaps wool for double-faced cashmere, made in Italy and finished by hand, with a boldly scaled collar. Both are labeled dry clean.
Feel Your Way Through KHAITE's Fall Fabrics →
Cotton Velvet: Night-Out Texture That Still Moves
KHAITE's velvet is cotton, chosen for what the listings call a "short, dense pile and classic look." The Samo Jacket ($2,500) is cropped, with rounded shoulders shaped by darts, and made in Italy. Look at the composition: 98% cotton, 2% elastane. That small stretch means a tailored jacket you can actually reach across a dinner table in. Care is dry clean.
Silk Organza: Volume Without Weight
KHAITE picks silk twill organza for its "sculptural, rounded character," which is a polite way of saying it holds a shape. The Adara Skirt ($4,200 in Bronze) is crafted in the United States from 100% silk twill organza, with deep pleats and hand-ruched horsehair inside the waist to push the volume out. It also has side pockets, a small practical surprise on an evening skirt. Dry clean only.
Leathers: Nappa, Glazed Calf, Haircalf and Suede
KHAITE's leather vocabulary is just as precise:
- Grained nappa lambskin. The Sandor Jacket ($6,900) mixes a moto shape with bomber volume, a stand collar lined in curly shearling and a silky cupro twill lining. Care: specialist cleaning.
- Glazed calf. The Marlene Pump ($1,200) is glazed calfskin with a high shine, lined in soft suede that KHAITE says adapts to your foot, made in Italy.
- Haircalf. Hair-on calfskin, as KHAITE describes it on other listings, with a lustrous texture you want to touch. The Dome Belt in Red Mahogany Haircalf ($720) pairs it with a domed buckle in 18-karat-gold-plated brass.
- Cashmere suede. KHAITE's name for its soft calfskin suede. The Donna Shoulder Bag ($2,680) in deep Ebano brown measures 13 inches long with a 7.5-inch handle drop.
These leathers are labeled "specialist cleaning," and KHAITE's FAQ adds that its Client Services team can assess repairs and advise on care.
Four KHAITE Pieces, Four Materials
Accessories that show off each finish, at the US prices on khaite.com in October 2026.
Prices change often; the brand's site always shows the current price.
Gold-Plated Brass: Jewelry-Like Hardware
KHAITE's buckles, clasps and jewelry are brass plated in 18-karat gold. The Visage Earrings ($880) are tiny cast masks in antiqued gold plate with flat backs that rest flush behind the ear. The care note is the simplest in the catalog: clean gently with a microfiber cloth.
The Material Decoder
| Label wording | What it means for you | Care on the label |
|---|---|---|
| Dense heritage cashmere | Compact, velvety, everyday knit | Dry clean |
| Felted cashmere | Dense dimension, enduring warmth | Dry clean |
| Double-faced wool or cashmere | Coats that keep their shape | Dry clean |
| Holiday velvet (cotton, 2% elastane) | Rich pile with a little give | Dry clean |
| Silk twill organza | Crisp volume, very light | Dry clean |
| Grained nappa, haircalf, cashmere suede | Soft leathers with texture | Specialist cleaning |
| 18K-gold-plated brass | Warm gold hardware and jewelry | Microfiber cloth |
Before You Buy
KHAITE ships US orders free at the standard rate, and US returns are complimentary within 14 days of delivery, as long as pieces are unworn, unwashed and unaltered with tags attached. Because the window is short, unpack and try a knit or coat the day it arrives. Pieces bought on khaite.com or at a US KHAITE store also carry a 1-year warranty covering how they were crafted, not everyday wear.
KHAITE Materials FAQ
Where does KHAITE list fabric and care?
On each product page under "Material and Care," which names the fabric, the composition and a care instruction such as dry clean or specialist cleaning.
Are KHAITE knits machine washable?
The cashmere sweaters we checked, including the Kelly, Gemma and Ewa, are all labeled dry clean.
What is haircalf?
KHAITE describes it as hair-on calfskin with a lustrous, rich texture. It appears on belts, bags and shoes, labeled for specialist cleaning.
Is KHAITE hardware solid gold?
No. The listings describe 18-karat-gold-plated brass.
The Bottom Line
KHAITE's prices make more sense once you read the fabric line. Choose dense heritage cashmere for daily wear, felted cashmere for real cold, double-faced cloth for a coat that keeps its shape, and velvet or organza when the evening calls for texture. Then factor in dry cleaning and specialist care before you commit. When you're ready, check our KHAITE deals page for the current offer.
How we wrote this: WeartrialsLab researched KHAITE using its official website, product listings, material and care notes, prices and policies in October 2026. We haven't personally tested these products and we don't invent ratings or discount codes. We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.