For well over a hundred years cashmere’s remarkable attributes have been recognised by mountaineers and explorers. It was used on the British Antarctic Expedition 1910-1913 and also the 1953 British Mount Everest Expedition with great success, and continues to be used on high mountain expeditions over synthetic fibres for many reasons.

Cashmere is the finest wool in the world. At approximately 15 microns in diameter (15/1000mm), it’s finer and softer than lambswool, yak wool, camelhair and merino wool. These fibres are twisted together during the yarn spinning process, creating thousands of microscopic air pockets, giving cashmere its renowned insulation properties.

“Cashmere’s natural characteristics are astonishing…It’s nature’s magic material.”

Ian Moore, founder of Dhu Performance Cashmere, said: “Dhu Performance Cashmere was started out of the conviction that cashmere is really the best fabric to use on the mountain. Its natural characteristics are astonishing: hydrophobic, highly insulating, lightweight, sustainable, breathable, flame resistant. It’s nature’s magic material.

“I was inspired to start Dhu Performance Cashmere by the records in the Royal Geographic Society [which showed] how they would customise their gear in Scottish mills.”

Dhu’s range of baselayers, gilets, jerseys and hoodies for men and women, as well as hats and neck gaiters, are made in those very same Scottish mills which have been working with the wool since 1801.