French Cashmere Brand KUJTEN Opens Aspen Boutique

Aspen —"We are very excited to open in Aspen, because mountain resorts are part of our DNA." That is the sentiment from Carole Benaroya, co-founder of KUJTEN. The French cashmere brand is bringing its mountain-resort presence to the Roaring Fork Valley with a boutique set to open in mid-November at 205 S. Mill St., Suite 202, according to the Aspen Times.

The location sits right in the heart of downtown Aspen. It is a high-traffic corridor where retail rents are among the highest in the country. KUJTEN joins a crowded field of luxury goods, but it brings a specific angle: the brand takes its name from Mount Kujten, the highest peak in Mongolia, pairing that region’s cashmere heritage with Parisian design sensibilities.

For context, this is not a pop-up or a seasonal tent. It is a permanent fixture in a building on Mill Street that will feature extensive wood finishes. Benaroya told the paper that this specific aesthetic distinguishes the company’s ski-resort stores from its urban locations. "For Aspen, we wanted to keep the atmosphere of the woods and the mountains and its authenticity," she said.

The company was founded in 2012 by Benaroya, her longtime friend Stéphanie Eriksson, and Eriksson’s husband, Benjamin Bettane. Their first store opened on Rue du Commerce in Paris. Today, the brand operates about 60 stores worldwide, including locations in European ski destinations like Courchevel, Megève, and St. Moritz.

The team behind the brand brings specific professional backgrounds to the table. Eriksson serves as artistic director, drawing on an extensive background in fashion, knitwear, and cashmere. Benaroya is the chief executive officer; she began her career in finance at Goldman Sachs, working in London, Hong Kong, and New York. Bettane serves as president of the brand. Benaroya described the venture to the Aspen Times as "really a love story between me and my husband, and a friendship between Stéphanie and me."

The collection spans sweaters, cardigans, hoodies, scarves, and bandanas for both women and men. The latest collection is inspired by Italy, specifically the Italian Riviera and Lake Como, featuring a lot of chocolate brown. For mountain climates, the brand offers an organic line with shades of white, gray, and camel. Benaroya emphasized that the styles are designed for comfort and suitability for cold weather.

This Aspen store is part of a broader U.S. expansion plan. Following its debut on Madison Avenue in New York in 2025, KUJTEN aims to operate four total U.S. boutiques. The other two planned locations are in SoHo and Miami. Benaroya stated the goal is to "bring a lifestyle" and the French aspect of the brand to Aspen.

Let’s do the math on what this means for local commerce. The company is betting that Aspen shoppers will pay a premium for cashmere marketed with a Mongolian origin story and Parisian design. The store is located at 205 S. Mill St., Suite 202, a space that will likely command significant lease rates given the address. The brand is not discounting; it is positioning itself as a lifestyle destination for those who can afford it.

For neighbors, the practical impact is an additional high-end retail option in a downtown that already caters heavily to wealth. It does not change the cost of living, but it reinforces the economic ecosystem that supports it. The store opens in mid-November, right as the ski season ramps up and tourism dollars flow into the valley.

The brand’s website, kujten.com/en, is where locals can browse the inventory before walking into the physical space. The wood finishes and mountain-inspired aesthetic suggest a store designed to feel like an extension of the outdoors, rather than a sterile urban boutique. It is a calculated move to blend European luxury with Western Slope identity.

Benaroya’s team is betting that the combination of organic materials and high-fashion design will resonate with both visitors and long-term residents. The store’s presence on Mill Street signals a continued commitment to the luxury retail segment in Aspen, regardless of broader economic shifts. The doors open this winter, and the cashmere is ready for the cold.