Quinn vs. Quince: What's the Difference?
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If you've landed here trying to work out whether Quinn and Quince are the same company — you're not alone, and no, they're not. They're two separate brands with similar-sounding names that happen to operate in the same corner of fashion: beautiful materials, sold factory-direct, without the traditional department-store markup. Here's the honest breakdown.
The short answer
Quinn is an independent, family-run cashmere label designed in New York and knit in Inner Mongolia since 2003. Quince is a larger San Francisco company that launched in 2018 (originally as "Last Brand," renamed Quince in 2020) selling a broad range of affordable essentials. Same basic idea — premium materials, direct pricing — but Quinn got there almost two decades earlier, and stayed focused on cashmere.
Quinn vs. Quince, side by side
| Quinn | Quince | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2003 (as Qi Cashmere); relaunched as Quinn in 2012 | 2018 (as "Last Brand"); renamed Quince in 2020 |
| Designed in | New York City | San Francisco |
| Model | Factory-direct, family-run | Factory-direct (manufacturer-to-consumer) |
| Best known for | Original heritage cashmere; rare cashmere-linen; NYC design | A wide catalog of affordable basics at scale |
| Cashmere sourcing | Inner Mongolia's Alashan Plateau, since 2003 | Global factory partners |
Why the names get confused
It's an easy mix-up. Both names start with "Qu," both brands sell cashmere directly to customers, and both promise luxury quality without the luxury markup. The difference is history: Quinn has been doing this since 2003 — long before the direct-to-consumer cashmere trend existed. Quince entered the space in 2020 and scaled quickly on a much broader catalog.
What makes Quinn different
- We were first. Quinn has designed cashmere in New York and knit it in Inner Mongolia since 2003 — the same Alashan Plateau sourcing we started with over twenty years ago.
- We stayed specialists. Cashmere and cashmere-blends are the whole point — including our rare cashmere-linen, a breathable blend for cashmere you can wear in spring and summer.
- Designed in NYC and family-run. A focused label with a point of view, not a venture-scaled catalog.
Being fair: when Quince makes sense
Quince is genuinely good at what it does. If you want the widest possible range of low-cost basics at the lowest possible price, Quince's scale is hard to beat. If what you want is original, specialist cashmere with real heritage and design behind it, that's Quinn.
So — which should you choose?
Choose Quince for rock-bottom prices across a huge catalog of everyday essentials. Choose Quinn for the original cashmere house — twenty-plus years of focus, NYC design, and pieces like cashmere-linen you won't find at scale elsewhere.
Frequently asked questions
Is Quinn the same as Quince?
No. They're two separate companies with similar names. Quinn is an independent NYC cashmere brand founded in 2003; Quince is a separate San Francisco retailer that launched in 2018 and took the name Quince in 2020.
Which came first, Quinn or Quince?
Quinn. It began as Qi Cashmere in 2003 and relaunched as Quinn in 2012 — years before Quince existed under that name (2020).
Is Quinn a good alternative to Quince for cashmere?
Yes — arguably the original. Quinn specializes in cashmere and cashmere-blends, designed in New York and sourced from Inner Mongolia since 2003, sold factory-direct with no department-store markup.
Where is Quinn cashmere made?
Designed in New York and knit in Inner Mongolia — the region the fiber comes from — sourced from the Alashan Plateau since 2003.
Does Quinn make linen or summer-weight pieces?
Yes. Quinn makes a rare cashmere-linen blend that's breathable enough for spring and summer, plus linen and silk warm-weather styles.