Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Crew vs Barrie Cashmere Cardigan

Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Crew vs Barrie Cashmere Cardigan: which one should you buy?

Quick answer

Buy the Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Crew if you want great cashmere for less. Buy the Barrie Cashmere Cardigan instead if you want Scottish craft.

By Opulique Editorial Team Updated November 6, 2026 1 min read

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Buy

Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Crew

Best for Value mill

Typically $400–$550

Check Price on Amazon Paid link

Buy

Barrie Cashmere Cardigan

Best for Scottish atelier

Typically $1,200–$1,800

Check Price on Amazon Paid link

Quick comparison

Feature	Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Crew	Barrie Cashmere Cardigan
Verdict	Buy	Buy
Typical price	$400–$550	$1,200–$1,800
Best for	Value mill	Scottish atelier
Key feature	Scottish cashmere crewneck	Cashmere cardigan
Yarn	2-ply cashmere	Cashmere
Weight	Medium	Medium
Fit	Regular	Regular
Made in	Scotland	Scotland
Where to buy	Check Price Paid link	Check Price Paid link

Main differences

Yarn

Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Crew: 2-ply cashmere; Barrie Cashmere Cardigan: Cashmere.

Weight

Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Crew: Medium; Barrie Cashmere Cardigan: Medium.

Fit

Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Crew: Regular; Barrie Cashmere Cardigan: Regular.

Made in

Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Crew: Scotland; Barrie Cashmere Cardigan: Scotland.

Why buy it

Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Crew: Scottish cashmere crewneck; Barrie Cashmere Cardigan: cashmere cardigan.

Made for

Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Crew: value mill; Barrie Cashmere Cardigan: Scottish atelier.

Usual price

Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Crew: $400–$550; Barrie Cashmere Cardigan: $1,200–$1,800.

Which should you choose?

Choose the Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Crew if you

you want great cashmere for less
value superb value

Check Price Paid link

Choose the Barrie Cashmere Cardigan if you

you want Scottish craft
value superb

Check Price Paid link

If neither feels right

Neither is the only answer. See every piece we would buy (and the ones we would skip) in our list of the best women’s cashmere knitwear.

Not sure about either? Consider these

Loro Piana · Women’s cashmere knitwear

Loro Piana Baby Cashmere Crewneck

Buy it if you want the softest cashmere.

Verdict: Buy
Best for: The finest cashmere
Typical price: $1,800–$2,400

Pros

Exceptional
Logo-free

Cons

Very pricey

Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review

Loro Piana · Women’s cashmere knitwear

Loro Piana Baby Cashmere Cardigan

Buy it if you want the softest.

Verdict: Buy
Best for: Finest cardigan
Typical price: $2,500–$3,200

Pros

Exceptional

Cons

Pricey

Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review

Frequently asked questions

Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Crew or Barrie Cashmere Cardigan: which should I buy?

Buy the Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Crew if you want great cashmere for less. Buy the Barrie Cashmere Cardigan instead if you want Scottish craft.

Is the price difference worth it?

The Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Crew usually costs $400–$550 and the Barrie Cashmere Cardigan $1,200–$1,800. Pay more only if the differences above matter to you.

Opulique Editorial Team

Part of the Opulique research team. We compare specifications, documentation and real-world trade-offs so you can decide faster.

How we research products Editorial policy

Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Crew or Barrie Cashmere Cardigan: the full reasoning

Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Crew or Barrie Cashmere Cardigan? Both are strong women’s cashmere knitwear, which is exactly why the choice is hard. The short version first: buy the Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Crew if you want great cashmere for less, and buy the Barrie Cashmere Cardigan if you want Scottish craft. The rest of this page explains why, with usual US prices.

Where they differ

The Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Crew wins on Scottish cashmere crewneck. The Barrie Cashmere Cardigan answers with cashmere cardigan. Yarn: 2-ply cashmere on the Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Crew, Cashmere on the Barrie Cashmere Cardigan. Weight: Medium on the Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Crew, Medium on the Barrie Cashmere Cardigan. Fit: Regular on the Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Crew, Regular on the Barrie Cashmere Cardigan. Made in: Scotland on the Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Crew, Scotland on the Barrie Cashmere Cardigan.

Reasons to buy the Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Crew

Superb value, Durable. What to accept: plain. Usual price: $400–$550. Our verdict: buy. Read the full Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Crew review.

Reasons to buy the Barrie Cashmere Cardigan

Superb. What to accept: pricey. Usual price: $1,200–$1,800. Our verdict: buy. Read the full Barrie Cashmere Cardigan review.

Neither one?

Our list of the best women’s cashmere knitwear has every other piece with its own call. Ply and gauge: 2-ply cashmere is tougher and warmer than single-ply; finer gauges look smarter, chunky ones feel cozier.

Also consider the Loro Piana Baby Cashmere Crewneck ($1,800–$2,400): baby cashmere crewneck. Buy it if you want the softest cashmere.

Also consider the Loro Piana Baby Cashmere Cardigan ($2,500–$3,200): baby cashmere cardigan. Buy it if you want the softest.

Buyer tip

Cashmere sweaters from great mills (Johnstons, Loro Piana, Cucinelli) last a decade with care; cheap cashmere often pills within weeks.

Buying in Europe: Italian (IT 38, 40, 42) and French (FR 36, 38, 40) clothing sizes are not the same; IT 40 is about a US 4 and an FR 36. Check each house’s chart, and keep returns in mind when you order from another country.

Luxury prices move in a different rhythm from everyday shopping. The great houses (Chanel, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Rolex) raise prices once or twice a year, often in January and in spring, and almost never discount their icons. Seasonal pieces, colors and many shoes, coats and knitwear drop 30–50% in the end-of-season sales in January and from late June. Watches from brands such as Omega, TAG Heuer, Longines and Breitling, and most fragrance, see the best prices around Prime Day and Black Friday. Judge any deal against the usual price we show.