Lightweight Merino Silk Scarves

Every scarf on this page weighs less than a bar of soap. A full 200 x 70 cm wrap, handwoven in Kashmir, comes off the loom at 97 grams. That is roughly 69 grams per square metre, which puts it closer to a silk scarf than to anything you would call woollen.

That is the point of merino silk. Merino is a fine, soft fleece that behaves nothing like the heavy wool most people picture, and blending it with silk at 85/15 adds sheen and drape without adding bulk. The result covers your shoulders on a cool evening and packs down to almost nothing in a bag.

Shop the collection

Browse all 39 merino silk scarves in the summer collection — striped, jacquard and reversible, from £25.

Why merino, and why so light

Coarse wool is heavy because the fibres are thick. Merino fibres are fine enough to spin into a 120/2 two-ply yarn, which is what lets our weavers build a full-size wrap at under 100 grams. The silk does the rest: it catches light along the weave and helps the fabric fall rather than sit.

What you get is a scarf that works in August. Cool mornings, over-air-conditioned offices, aeroplanes, evenings that turn once the sun drops. It is not a winter scarf pressed into summer service.

The weights, plainly

Every piece measures 200 x 70 cm. The reversible scarves are double-faced, with a different colour on each side, and still come in at 102 grams.

• Striped and plain — 97 grams, around 69 gsm
• Reversible — 102 grams, around 73 gsm
• Jacquard — 106 grams, around 76 gsm

Striped

The largest part of the collection. Fine stripes run the length of the scarf, usually a neutral ground with one or two colours drawn through it. Some are barely there at arm’s length and only read close up.

Jacquard

Patterns built into the weave itself rather than printed on top, so the design shows on both faces and will not wear away. These are woven on the loom pattern by pattern.

Reversible

Two faces, two colours, one scarf. Fold it one way for a muted neutral, another for something warmer. Useful when packing light.

How they are made

The yarn is handspun before it reaches the loom, then plied into a two-ply 120/2 count. Weaving is done by hand in Kashmir, and the edges are hand-fringed rather than machine-finished. A single scarf takes a weaver the better part of a day.

Because each one is handwoven, small variations in the stripe spacing or the density of the weave are normal. They are not flaws.

Wearing them in summer

Loose once around the neck with the ends left long is the easiest thing to do and works with most necklines. Over bare shoulders with a sleeveless dress covers you without heat. Folded lengthwise into a narrow band and knotted works under a collar.

At 70 cm wide there is enough fabric to use it as a light wrap on a flight, which is what most of our customers tell us they actually do with it.

Looking after them

• Dry clean only
• Do not bleach
• Iron on the reverse if needed, away from direct heat
• Store folded rather than hung
• Keep out of direct sunlight, which fades the silk faster than the wool

Is merino wool warm enough to be worth it in summer?

Warmth is not really the job here. Merino breathes and regulates temperature, so it takes the edge off a cool evening without making you hot indoors. At 97 grams there is not enough fabric to overheat in.

Is this the same as cashmere or pashmina?

No. Cashmere and pashmina come from goats, merino from sheep. Merino is finer and springier than most wool, holds colour well, and costs considerably less than pashmina, which is why these sit at £25 to £30 rather than in the hundreds.

Will it itch?

Merino at this fineness does not scratch the way coarse wool does, and the silk content makes the surface smoother again. If you have found wool uncomfortable before, this is a different material.

How big is it?

200 cm long by 70 cm wide, which is generous enough to wear as a wrap rather than only as a scarf.

Can I wear it outside summer?

Yes, layered under a coat or over a jumper. It is designed for summer but it is not limited to it.