Global Fashion Crisis? Perhaps, but cashmere is still king . . .

There are a few knitwear names who pass their creations off as 'cashmere', but the real McCoy is harder to come across than you may think. So, as a totally happy way to the see the weekened out, I went in search of a new black, polo neck sweater that should see me through winter.

Expensive? yes, it can be. But when you put that cost-per-wear ratio into the mix, a simple, black turtle neck or v-neck cashmere sweater will prove its worth.

Derek and Kerry Marrable, who run Australia's leading cashmere house _ The House of Cashmere http://www.house-of-cashmere.com/ in Sydney in Melbourne have been in the cashmere biz for years, producing, trading and processing cashmere _ and let's get one thing right. Cashmere used by HoC comes from only goats white alp goats from Inner Mongolia.

From the HoC's joint venture cashmere studs in Inner Mongolia and Liaoning Provinces, then via Italian mills, their fine cashmere fibre is spun, woven and knitted into their own Australian-sold collections.

I had a chat to Derek the other day _ that ridiculously freezing Sydney day when wearing even three layers of cashmere wouldn't have seemed enough _ (although Derek seemed thrilled that at last, the chill was kicking in some great sales) who told me the HoC also supports the local cashmere industry by stocking a small range of Australian cashmere products.

With the luxury end of the market not as ostentatious or pretentious as it was, say, just a few years ago, what people are buying are timeless pieces of clothing that don't shout 'fashion-now' but more 'fashion-forever'.

Mr Marrable says you can can shop directly at HoC or select by mail order from a large range of cashmere knitwear, jackets, coats, blankets, pashminas, opera Wraps and scarves as well as blankets, leggings, cashmere babies booties and the most classic of twin-sets that feature crew next cardigans and crew neck short sleeve jumpers.

At 74 Castlereagh Street or 247 Collins Street Melbourne, it's just an experience to go in and touch and feel the absolute warmth and softness of cashmere. It was a great way to spend an hour on a freezing cold day . . .