Materials

At the heart of Balmuir’s design philosophy are the finest natural materials, timeless design, and carefully chosen long-term partners whose deep expertise and savoir-faire are reflected in the quality of every piece.

The Balmuir collection brings together high-quality home textiles, clothing and accessories, defined by a timeless design. Each piece is designed in Finland, in Siltasaari, Helsinki.

Balmuir uses high-quality materials in its items, most of which are derived from renewable natural resources. We select materials based on their quality and suitability for the intended use of each item. Our collections include, among others, cashmere, cotton, wool and mohair.

The quality of a material is above all recognised by how it feels and performs in use. It is also reflected in its feel, natural character and beautiful drape – qualities that contribute to a timeless product designed to be enjoyed for as long as possible.

We design our Balmuir pieces with longevity in mind, carefully selecting materials with the aim of enabling them to be enjoyed for as long as possible.

Cashmere 

Cashmere is one of the finest and most precious natural fibres. Renowned for its exceptional softness and breathability, its fineness is measured in microns on a scale ranging from 14 to 30. The lower the micron count, the finer and softer the fibre. The cashmere used in Balmuir’s collections is exceptionally fine, measuring 15.5–16 microns.

The majority of the world’s cashmere comes from China. Balmuir’s 100% cashmere items are crafted from fine Inner Mongolian cashmere, renowned worldwide for its exceptional quality.

Mohair

In terms of fibre structure, mohair is similar to wool. It is slightly more lustrous, airier and more resilient. Mohair is one of the most durable fibres and has excellent elasticity. The fibre also has excellent dyeing properties, allowing it to be dyed in bright shades with good colour fastness, as seen in Balmuir’s Aurora collection.

Mohair is used in both clothing and home textiles. It is suitable for garments, accessories, throws and decorative cushions.

Our wool products containing mohair are made from a blend of fibres. An additional fibre, such as wool, may be used to enhance the durability of the product. Polyamide is also commonly used to add strength to mohair products, as in Balmuir’s Aurora Kid Mohair Classic Scarf.

A characteristic of mohair knitwear is that fine fibres may shed during use.

Kid Mohair

Kid mohair is an exceptionally soft and highly valued natural fibre. It is the finest quality of mohair, characterised by its exceptional lightness, smoothness and luxurious feel. Its softness and delicate nature distinguish it from traditional mohair.

Kid mohair is obtained from the first shearing, resulting in exceptionally fine and soft fibres. Due to its limited availability, it is considered a rare and highly valued material.

Our kid mohair items are carefully handcrafted in South Africa, where our long-standing partner provides employment for local women.

Alpaca

Balmuir’s 100% alpaca items are made from fine first-shearing alpaca fibre in Peru, the material’s place of origin. So-called baby alpaca fibre measures 21.5–22.5 microns and is hollow, making it extremely soft and lightweight, with excellent insulating properties. Baby alpaca refers to an exceptionally fine quality of alpaca wool.

Alpaca is an exceptionally soft fibre, which is why our other wool products containing alpaca are made from a blend of fibres. An additional fibre, such as polyamide or elastane, is used to strengthen the product and help extend its lifespan. Alpaca wool is considerably less prone to pilling than other wool fibres and is often well suited to those who find conventional wool irritating against the skin.

Wool

Balmuir’s wool items are crafted from high-quality wool fibres, such as virgin wool and merino wool.

Wool is a refined and durable natural fibre that naturally adapts to the body’s temperature, providing comforting warmth in cooler conditions while remaining breathable in warmer weather. Highly breathable and naturally moisture-wicking, wool helps maintain a fresh and comfortable feel throughout the day.

Balmuir’s wool garments are made from extra-fine merino wool, one of the world’s finest wool qualities. Its exceptionally fine fibres feel soft and silky against the skin.

Anti-Pilling Wool

Balmuir’s popular 100% extra-fine merino wool items feature an anti-pilling treatment. A special treatment applied to the yarn enhances wool’s natural properties and creates an exceptionally durable surface that resists pilling.

The result is a material that retains its smoothness, softness and refined lustre, wear after wear.

Wool Blends

Balmuir’s carefully developed wool blends combine the warmth and durability of wool with other fine natural fibres.

• Wool–mohair brings the distinctive lightness and soft, fluffy texture of mohair.

• Wool–silk is one of Balmuir’s most beloved materials – lightweight with an elegant lustre.

• Wool–cashmere combines cashmere’s exceptional softness, warmth and breathability with the practicality and durability of wool.

Cotton

Balmuir’s cotton textiles are made from long-staple and high-quality cotton qualities. Balmuir’s cotton home textiles are primarily made in Portugal.

Linen

Linen is exceptionally comfortable to use, with a naturally cooling feel in warm weather and a pleasantly warm feel in cooler conditions. It is a strong and durable fibre that becomes even softer with use. Our linen products are given their soft handle through specialised washing and finishing treatments.

Linen’s naturally crinkled appearance is one of the material’s distinctive characteristics.

Ramie

Ramie is one of the world’s oldest natural fibres. It is made from the fibre obtained from the stems of the ramie plant (Boehmeria nivea). Similar in its properties to linen, ramie is an even stronger and more durable fibre.

Like linen, ramie is exceptionally comfortable to use, with a naturally cooling feel in warm weather and a pleasantly warm feel in cooler conditions. It is a strong, durable fibre, designed to withstand use and become softer over time.

Ramie’s naturally crinkled appearance is one of the material’s distinctive characteristics.

Silk

Silk is a refined material, recognised for its elegant lustre and exceptionally pleasant feel. The silk fibre is lightweight yet strong, making it a versatile material with a beautiful drape, well suited to varying climates.

The silk used in Balmuir’s items is produced in China from the cocoons of mulberry silkworms, using traditional silk-making techniques. Silk is the only natural filament fibre, meaning it consists of one continuous, long fibre. This gives silk its durability, lustre and smoothness. Our silk items are made in Italy and China.

The momme count indicates the density of silk. A momme count above 19 is considered high quality. Silk with a higher momme count is more durable and better able to withstand care and washing.

Triacetate

Balmuir uses high-quality Japanese triacetate, a cellulose-based regenerated fibre with a silky-soft feel and an elegant lustre. The material is highly heat-resistant, does not wrinkle easily and resists dirt.

Triacetate has a beautiful drape, is washable, and is easier to care for than silk. Polyester added to the triacetate helps reduce creasing and further enhances the material’s durability.

Leather

Leather is a highly durable material that develops a beautiful patina with age. Balmuir bags are primarily crafted by hand, with each bag requiring dozens of individual steps to complete. In a high-quality bag, even the smallest details are carefully considered. For example, the edges of the leather are carefully painted several times to achieve a refined finish. The seams are finished and reinforced with hand stitching. Every bag undergoes a thorough quality inspection. Our bags and leather footwear are made in Europe.

Our leather garments are made from high-quality, exceptionally soft lambskin.

Down and Feather

Down is a warm, breathable and remarkably lightweight natural material. It is considered one of the world’s finest natural insulating materials. Balmuir’s down items use certified, bleached goose down (90% down / 10% feather), sourced as a by-product of food production.

The fabric used in Balmuir’s down items is treated to be down-proof, preventing the down from escaping through the fabric.

Down has a natural ability to regain its shape. When compressed, a down product returns to its original form, retaining its quality and insulating properties for decades when properly cared for.