9 Contemporary Fashion and Accessory Brands to Know From September's Coterie and MAGIC Trade Shows

Calle Del Mar, the knitwear label designed and crafted in Los Angeles, has debuted its first assortment of cashmere. The 12 cashmere pieces sit within the emerging brand's ninth collection, which is also the brand's first fall delivery.

"We've always had a really strong summer business, so we were looking for a way to expand with fall. I've always wanted to do a cashmere collection, but while the brand was still coming up, it needed to be known for what has now put us on the map: our viscose, summer-leaning sets," founder Aza Ziegler told WWD. She said the brand initially tested a few small cashmere styles (a hoodie and Western-style cardigan) within a resort collection that performed well -- selling out three times and culminating in an ongoing wait list for the pieces, proving the demand was high for the category.

"Our average order value is about $1,500 because people build their sets; these pieces are in that price range, but we didn't see any price resistance," she said. The brand's overall prices range from $225 to $2,250, with cashmere $695 to $1,695.

Calle Del Mar's debut Italian cashmere line includes a handful of matching sets with cardigans, sleeveless vests, pants, miniskirts and more featuring nostalgic motifs. For instance, the introduction of Fair Isle and novelty Western and floral motifs inspired by artisanal designs Ziegler inherited from her grandmother, a hobbyist knitter and crocheter. Each garment is naturally dyed with plants and veggies, knit in L.A. and produced by female-owned factories. "We're working on California native dyes," she teased of future cashmere pieces and sustainable initiatives.

In addition, the brand has produced a handful of exclusives for its direct-to-consumer business, as well as for the cashmere capsule's exclusive retail partners Net-a-porter, Fwrd, Elyse Walker and The Webster.