What is jacquard?

Noble, elegant and timeless, jacquard is highly sought after, yet its crafting process remains relatively unknown. However, it requires a very specific expertise that we know well at Linnea Lund, and which we absolutely wanted to share, as producers of cashmere jacquard.

 

Jacquard explained in 10 seconds

• It is a technique, not a material, which emerged at the beginning of the 19th century.
• The yarns used are dyed before being woven or knitted.
• Jacquard makes the knit more resistant and durable.
• Cashmere jacquard is the pinnacle of refinement and comfort, available to discover with our Stilla collection.

 

Jacquard: a technique, not a material

The term "jacquard" primarily refers to a weaving technique, and not a material (like cotton or cashmere) or a specific pattern (the famous diamond shape).

The main characteristic of jacquard is that it allows for the creation of complex designs directly integrated into the fabric itself, rather than simply being printed or embroidered on it. Thus, the designs (whether flowers, geometric shapes, or arabesques) appear thanks to threads of different colors lifting independently of one another and intertwining.

But the most incredible thing about this weaving technique is that the design can be seen just as well on the right side as on the reverse side of the fabric. On the reverse, it appears as a "negative," often giving the piece a reversible effect.

⭐ At Linnea Lund, this is what makes the beauty of our cashmere jacquard sweaters: they are just as beautiful on the inside as on the outside!

 

The origins of jacquard: a mechanical revolution

Flashback to 1801, in Lyon, where the inventor Joseph Marie Jacquard developed a loom using a punched card system. A minor revolution in the textile world. From then on, the weaving process was automated. Each thread is controlled individually, allowing for infinite and much more complex combinations of colors and patterns. The speed and precision of the jacquard loom also boosted the manufacturing of fabrics, which were then produced on a larger scale.

 

The unique features of jacquard

Jacquard stands out for:

• Its textured appearance: the intertwining of the threads catches the light and offers a slight relief to the touch.
• Its foolproof resistance: the fabric, thick and dense, does not wrinkle and ages well over time. As for the yarns, dyed before being worked, they ensure that the designs do not fade and the colors keep all their brilliance wash after wash. Unlike prints.
• Its wide diversity of materials: cotton, silk, linen, wool, or even synthetic blends: the jacquard technique goes well with all materials.
• Its multiple uses: clothing, bags, scarves, household linen, curtains, upholstery: jacquard takes over both the wardrobe and interior decoration.

 

Woven or knitted: not the same

There are two main families of jacquard.

Traditionally, jacquard is woven, which gives the fabric a firmness and excellent structure. Ideal for upholstery or structured jackets.

And then there is jacquard knit (or knitted jacquard), like the kind we make at Linnea Lund. We start with the same principle of designs integrated directly into the material, except that, this time, knitting machines do the work. The structure is no longer a rigid grid, but a succession of interlocking loops (the stitches). This makes the fabric much more supple.

 

The feat of a cashmere jacquard knit

The softness, comfort, and naturally exceptional thermal properties of cashmere, combined with the subtle jacquard technique, represent the pinnacle of refinement and comfort in the world of knitwear.

Knitted, a cashmere jacquard sweater is even warmer, denser, and softer, all while retaining the incredible lightness characteristic of cashmere. Why? Because the continuous passing of several yarns creates an additional thickness within the knit itself.

Knitting a jacquard in cashmere requires meticulous adjustment to maintain perfect tension, allowing the sweater to keep its suppleness without risking deformation. And that is the true talent of our knitting workshop.

⭐ At Linnea Lund, we have mastered this technical requirement, which allows us to bring original designs to life without ever altering the softness, quality, beauty, or colors of our cashmere knit.

⭐ Like Stilla, our capsule collection of women's jacquard sweaters, available to discover here.

 

3 questions you might have about cashmere jacquard

• Why do we think of "diamonds" when we think of jacquard?
  Because the elegant diamond shape is one of the great "classics" associated with jacquard, but in reality, any fancy pattern is possible!
  
  
• Is cashmere jacquard easy to wash?
  Yes! Cashmere loves water, and we share all our washing secrets here.
  
  
• Is cashmere jacquard a fragile fabric?
  No, cashmere jacquard is resistant and durable. In fact, at Linnea Lund, our cashmere sweaters are sweaters for a lifetime and much more...