When Alina Kornelli said she wanted to share her story about foiling in cashmere, Jen Tyler got excited, thinking she meant an adventure in Kashmir! Turns out, she wasn’t talking about the region—she meant the fabric! Dive into Alina’s unexpected collaboration with Allude Cashmere right here.

Alina, born and raised in Munich, always feels deeply connected to her Bavarian roots, even though her adventures now take her all over the world in search of the perfect wind and waves for wingfoiling and kitesurfing. Despite her busy travel schedule, Munich remains her home base, where she regroups before her next trip. 

It was here that she received a rather outlandish request from a high-end fashion brand that specialises in cashmere and wants to associate itself with the watersports world. It’s a bit of a challenge, considering that wool is the most impractical fabric to wear in the water. There is a reason our wetsuits are made out of neoprene, after all. 

Initially, Alina considered using kite foiling for the shoot but realised that the bulky harness wouldn't look great for the shoot. Instead, she opted for wingfoiling, allowing for a simpler look with a small waist leash hidden under her outfit. 

Wool, particularly the lightweight, high-grade cashmere the brand asked her to wear, absorbs water quickly and can double in weight, rendering it impractical for any wet or wild activity. This introduces a high-stakes element to the shoot: each trick Alina attempts must be flawless, and she can’t fall in. There is no room for error, second chances, or opportunity to “wipe out” without ruining the shot and forcing an outfit change.

The location? The breathtaking coastline near Marseille, France, specifically “Les Calanques,” a stunning natural park with rugged cliffs and hidden bays. It’s also where renowned fashion photographer Anne Combaz is based. Usually known for shooting top brands like Chanel, Anne was excited to take on this new challenge of shooting action sports from a moving boat rather than models in a photography studio.

Alina’s challenge is not just to execute her tricks with style but to do so without getting wet. Cashmere’s natural absorbency and fine texture mean that even a minor slip or splash would wreck the shot. 

A Juxtaposition of Style and Sport

The collaboration highlights the fascinating tension between brands aligning themselves with the allure of extreme sports while working with products that are, in a practical sense, far removed from the demands of that lifestyle. Cashmere is undeniably luxurious, wrapping wearers in softness and warmth, yet its suitability for wingfoiling—a high-energy, water-bound sport—is tenuous at best, realistically it's totally out of place. Therefore, this shoot becomes a statement piece, showcasing the brand’s willingness to experiment, go beyond its typical image, and push the boundaries of where luxury can fit into the world of action sports.

For Alina, this shoot goes beyond athleticism; it demands precision, skill, and calculated risk. “This isn’t just about showing what I can do on the water; it’s about capturing a unique moment of control and beauty in one shot,” she says. “It’s really pushing me to see if I can control every element around me, including the water itself, which is something we normally don’t have to think about as much in wingfoiling, as it doesn’t matter if we get wet.”

Cashmere Meets Control

In many ways, the collaboration reflects a broader trend of fashion brands seeking association with extreme sports, where raw human achievement and adventure create an aspirational pull. Yet, Allude’s collaboration with Alina reminds us that these partnerships, however eye-catching, sometimes tread the fine line between practicality and sheer spectacle. While cashmere and wingfoiling may seem like odd partners, this tension gives the shoot its drama, demanding a level of technical precision from Alina and sparking curiosity from audiences worldwide.

Ultimately, this shoot is less about proving that cashmere can conquer the sea and more about celebrating an unlikely partnership between two worlds—luxury and adrenaline—that don’t ordinarily meet. Outside brands coming out of the sport can be a good thing. They can create awareness amongst audiences we can’t typically reach, and they can also bring some funding to what is an incredible niche sport and its riders. 

Ultimately, we’re not to decide what’s right and what’s wrong, we are here to enjoy the imagery in its purest form, even if most of you won’t be rushing out to wear a Christmas jumper for your next shoot…

 

By Alina Kornelli

Comments