The Williams Sonoma Recycled Italian Cashmere Throw is a high-end blanket at the pinnacle of softness if your budget allows for a splurge.
Cashmere is often regarded as the pinnacle of luxury when it comes to wool. The expensive yet incredibly soft fabric is generated from the soft undercoat of cashmere goats native to the Himalayas where temperatures can drop to -30°C ensuring cashmere is one of the warmest materials on the market.
Naturally, cashmere is an excellent choice for a throw blanket thanks to the material's warmth, softness, and breathability — if you're willing to splurge on the high price tag.
What sets Williams Sonoma's Recycled Italian Cashmere Throw apart from the pack is that key word, "recycled." Instead of utilizing virgin cashmere, Williams Sonoma collects the leftover wool from other knits and reweaves them into new yarn, cutting down on waste and reducing the environmental impact of these blankets by 92%.
The cashmere they collect has already been dyed for other projects. Instead of redying it, they allow the slight variations in color to shine, giving each throw a unique, slightly mottled coloration.
The Recycled Italian Cashmere Throws are produced in Prato, Italy at a mill that has been weaving cashmere dating back to the 12th century, so you can be assured that your throw has been produced with the highest quality of care and skill.
Like all cashmere, this throw is dry-clean only, but thanks to cashmere's inherent antibacterial nature, it will resist smells for quite a long time, so you'll likely only have to clean this blanket once a season or if you spill something on it.
Pros: As soft as wool can be, doesn't get smelly, warm yet breathable
Cons: Very expensive, dry-clean only