A Cashmere Catch-up with Golden Axe

Cashmere and spring go together like whiskey and cigars. When its sunny out but the chill is still in the air, a cashmere layer is just the ticket. London-based brand Golden Axe specialise in beautifully crafted cashmere pieces. The brand offers a distinctly small number of designs that are available in runs of 50 or less in timeless shades -burgundy and navy fans will love these FYI. We caught up with Peter Semple, the man behind the pieces to find out more.

How did Golden Axe come about?

I really wanted to make an incredible cardigan at a reasonable price as it’s basically impossible to find one. I also really liked the idea of marrying English tailoring with the cultural connections more readily found in street wear. Finally I wanted to create a product which felt personal to those who purchases one: hence the presentation boxing and the hand-written details.

How would you describe the brand in three words?

English. Luxury. Personal

The pieces are produced by a family-owned cashmere business in England. How important is this manufacturing ritual to the brand?  

It was supremely important to work with them in developing the garments: their knitwear creators helped me realize the shapes, tailored fits and details I wanted to achieve with both cardigan styles. My vision was always to create garments with a very English aesthetic, so working with English-raised and trained cashmere experts was an amazing experience.

How would you style these pieces for spring?

For spring, I’d see both cardigan styles being worn over a t-shirt rather than a button-down shirt. The burgundy shawl cardigan, sleeves rolled up over an un-tucked white tee, fitted black jeans and a pair of black/red Air Jordan 1s. Or the navy button cardigan – buttoned – over a gym grey tee, fitted trousers, bare ankles and loafers, great for both men and women.

In your opinion, who rocks a cardigan like no one else can?

Great question. I’ve actually seen Jay-Z wear a number of cardigans amazingly well over the years. He’s great at looking casual and relaxed. That’s a good look.