Extreme Cashmere Hits L.A., Max Mara's new store in Tokyo

Cashmere California: Amsterdam-based Saskia Dijkstra landed in Los Angeles this week with her cult brand Extreme Cashmere - and it could soon be hitting a red carpet or an NBA tunnel.

Cashmere Extreme Courtesy

The founder turned the tables on some of Hollywood's biggest image-makers, styling the stylists Jessica Paster, Petra Flannery, Nicole Ferreira and more in her softest layers to introduce them to the brand.

Contrary to popular belief, Southern California is the perfect place to live a cashmere lifestyle , with temperatures that fluctuate up to 30 degrees from day to night for several months of the year. That's why Dijkstra visited her asexual and one-size-fits-all line, ranging from the aptly named Home loose turtleneck, to the strapless rib-knit Diana dress/maxiskirt, from the Caress wide-strap bra top to the Bike shorts. .

"If they try it, they want it. What I realize is that we have to train people in stores because when I look at someone, I know,” said Dijkstra, ensconced at Sunset Tower with heaps of cashmere sweaters, swingy dresses, shorts and more, between the in-store visits to H. Lorenzo, A'Maree's and other local retailers.

Dijkstra spent two decades working on the production of high-end cashmere for other labels, including Joseph and Jil Sander, then decided to create his own brand in 2016 based on the idea of ​​cashmere for all bodies. Made in Hong Kong, Extreme Cashmere now has nearly 300 styles and is sold worldwide. (Prices range from $83 for a cashmere cord belt to $1,373 for a rib-neck cardigan.)

Style is part of the philosophy, with criss-cross tops, tubes and skirts stackables, bags and purses in classic navy, camel, moss and tree, bright neon pink, green, fiery yellow and more. On the website, pieces are featured for all ages and body types, designed for all occasions, including extreme sports, extreme home, extreme dance, and extreme wedding (with opera gloves in white cashmere). For spring, she is launching pieces in cotton and cashmere, including mesh basketball tank tops.

Naturally, Dijkstra has very specific ideas about how cashmere should be taken care of. "After you wash it, dry it flat on a towel, then iron it with a linen dish towel in the middle. You use the little comb we provide with each sweater and sweep, sweep, sweep. Then you have a sweater for life,” she said, noting her preference for washing cashmere in Miele machines.

Latest brand campaign, shot by Dan McMahon, features basketball league members WCBL Ohio playing on the cashmere court. And Dijkstra hopes some of the West's players will be on the brand's pitch soon. After all, it stretches to fit. —Booth Moore

TOKYO BOUND: Saturday,