Everlane vs. Quince Cashmere: Which brand should you buy?

Everlane is an established leader in ethical fashion, known for its Radical Transparency and minimalist wardrobe classics at a mid-tier price point. Quince, on the other hand, is a direct-to-consumer brand that delivers luxury-quality cashmere at significantly lower prices by eliminating traditional retail markups.

Let's explore the details to help you find the perfect cashmere for your style and budget.

Everlane: The Leader in Transparent, Ethical Essentials

Everlane has built its reputation on creating high-quality, timeless wardrobe basics with a deep commitment to ethical production and transparent pricing. They appeal to conscious consumers who want to know where their clothes come from and are willing to invest in pieces designed to last. Their aesthetic is minimalist, clean, and versatile.

• Product mix: A focused collection of wardrobe staples including cashmere sweaters, premium denim, modern footwear, and silk blouses.
• Price point: Cashmere sweaters typically range from $150 to $250. This pricing sits in the "affordable luxury" category, reflecting the brand's investment in quality materials and ethical factories.
• Quality & Materials: Known for soft and durable Grade-A Mongolian cashmere that holds its shape well and resists pilling better than lower-quality alternatives.
• Fit & Sizing: Generally runs true to size with a consistent fit across its collections. Everlane offers an inclusive size range from XXS to XXL.
• Sustainability & Ethics: A core pillar of the brand. Everlane provides a detailed "Radical Transparency" breakdown for each product, showing the exact costs of materials, labor, and transport. They also publish a list of their factories and their environmental report.
• Sales: Holds seasonal sales and a recurring "Choose What You Pay" event, offering items at tiered discounts.
• Return policy: Accepts returns of new, unworn items within 30 days of shipment.

Everlane is the ideal choice for shoppers who value brand transparency and a classic, polished aesthetic and see their purchase as an investment in ethical production.

Shop Everlane: everlane.com

Quince: The DTC Brand for Luxury Quality at Radical Prices

Quince's entire business model is built on providing luxury-quality goods transparently and affordably by shipping directly from the factory to the consumer. This allows them to offer premium materials like Mongolian cashmere, Italian leather, and mulberry silk at prices that are often 50-80% lower than traditional retail. Their style is modern, minimalist, and designed for everyday wearability.

• Product mix: Offers a growing range of luxury essentials across women's and men's apparel, home goods, and accessories, with a strong focus on their signature cashmere.
• Price point: Cashmere sweaters are priced aggressively, usually between $80 and $150. Their value-for-money is their biggest selling point.
• Quality & Materials: Uses Grade-A Mongolian cashmere with long-staple fibers, resulting in pieces that are exceptionally soft, durable, and rival brands that charge twice as much.
• Fit & Sizing: Known to run true to size with options for both form-fitting and relaxed styles. Product pages include detailed size charts and garment measurements.
• Sustainability & Ethics: Partners with factories that meet global standards for workplace safety and wage fairness. They prioritize responsible sourcing and eco-friendly packaging.
• Sales: Prices are already very low, so Quince rarely runs traditional sales. Their main offer is consistent, everyday value.
• Return policy: Offers a generous 365-day return policy for a full refund on items in their original condition.

Quince delivers exceptional value, providing high-end materials and construction at a price point that makes luxury feel more accessible for everyone.

Shop Quince: quince.com

Everlane vs. Quince Cashmere Comparison

Price Comparison

This is the most significant difference between the two brands. A classic crewneck cashmere sweater at Everlane might cost around $168, while a comparable style from Quince is priced around $90. Quince is the clear winner on price across the board.

Quince achieves its sharp pricing through its direct-to-consumer, factory-direct model, stripping away costs associated with physical retail stores, wholesaling, and excessive marketing. For shoppers whose primary concern is affordability and financial value, Quince is hard to beat.

Quality & Materials

Both brands use high-quality Grade-A Mongolian cashmere known for its long, fine fibers, which contribute to softness and durability. Anecdotally, the feel and initial quality are nearly indistinguishable to most consumers. Both sweaters feel luxurious, warm, and soft against the skin.

The difference lies in value. Getting cashmere of this caliber for under $100 from Quince feels like a major win. While Everlane's quality is excellent and reliable, Quince's ability to match it at such a lower price gives it an edge in terms of pure material value for every dollar spent.

Style & Aesthetic

Both brands champion a minimalist, timeless aesthetic. Their cashmere collections are filled with essential silhouettes like crewnecks, turtlenecks, and cardigans in a range of solid, neutral colors.

Everlane often leans slightly more polished and classic, offering structured shapes that are perfect for workwear or more refined casual outfits. Quince has a similar feel but can sometimes feature slightly more modern or relaxed fits that align perfectly with contemporary, everyday style. Ultimately, the choice here comes down to subtle personal preference, as both create versatile, easy-to-style pieces.

Sustainability & Ethics

Everlane has long been a pioneer in this area with its Radical Transparency initiative. They provide detailed cost breakdowns for their products and extensive information about their factories. For anyone who puts ethical reporting and deep supply chain transparency at the very top of their list, Everlane sets a high standard.

Quince also operates with a strong ethical framework, ensuring its factory partners provide fair wages and a safe working environment and using sustainable packaging. However, they are less detailed in their public-facing reports compared to Everlane. Both are good choices for conscious consumers, but Everlane provides more granular data for those who want it.

Return Policies

Quince has one of the best return policies in the industry, offering a full 365 days to return items in their original condition. This gives customers ample time to decide if a piece is right for their wardrobe through multiple seasons.

Everlane's policy is more standard, offering 30 days for returns on unworn items. While perfectly adequate for most shoppers, it is less flexible than Quince's extensive window. Quince is the winner here.

Which One Should You Choose?

Both brands offer excellent cashmere basics, but they cater to slightly different priorities.

Choose Everlane if:

• Supply chain transparency is your top priority and you value their detailed cost breakdowns.
• You are loyal to Everlane's specific fits and classic, polished aesthetic.
• You are willing to spend a bit more to invest in a brand known for leading the charge in ethical fashion reporting.
• You want more shopping choices, including occasional physical retail pop-ups and more frequent new arrivals.

Choose Quince if:

• Getting the best possible price for luxury-quality cashmere is your primary goal.
• You prioritize value and love the smart, no-frills direct-to-consumer model.
• You want a generous, risk-free return policy that gives you a full year to make a decision.
• You want to build a wardrobe of modern, minimalist essentials without the traditional luxury price tag.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Everlane or Quince cashmere cheaper?

Quince is significantly cheaper. Most of their classic cashmere sweaters are priced under $100, while similar styles at Everlane typically start around $150 and go up from there.

Which brand has better quality cashmere?

The material quality is surprisingly comparable. Both brands use Grade-A Mongolian cashmere that is soft, warm, and durable. For the price, Quince offers exceptional quality, making it the better value choice without a noticeable sacrifice in feel or performance.

Do Everlane and Quince run true to size?

Yes, both brands are generally considered true to size. They provide detailed sizing charts on their product pages, which are helpful for choosing the correct fit. Quince often includes specific garment measurements in addition to body measurements.

Which brand is more sustainable?

Both brands have strong commitments to ethical and sustainable practices. Everlane is known for its "Radical Transparency," publicly sharing detailed information about its factories and production costs. Quince focuses on responsible sourcing and eco-friendly packaging. If you want deep-dive reports and data, Everlane offers more.

What is the return policy for Everlane and Quince?

Quince has a huge advantage with its 365-day return window for items in original condition. Everlane offers a more standard 30-day return window. Both processes are straightforward.

Is Quince cashmere ethically sourced?

Yes, Quince partners with suppliers and factories that meet or exceed global standards for safety, ethical practices, and fair wages, ensuring their materials are sourced responsibly.

Where can I buy Everlane and Quince?

Both brands are primarily sold online through their respective websites. Quince is exclusively direct-to-consumer, while Everlane operates a few physical retail stores in major cities.

Which brand offers more styles and colors?

Both brands focus on core colors like black, navy, camel, and grey. Everlane tends to introduce seasonal colors and a slightly wider variety of styles more frequently, while Quince focuses on perfecting a curated selection of essential, best-selling designs.