Friends - where can I buy "typical"/"traditional" cashmere sweaters? The ones at N Peal are too fashion-forward (i.e. slim fit, non-traditional colours, tiny V necks, unusual styles). I am thinking along the lines of Peter Scott's collection ca. 1993.
So, traditional pastel colours, very soft grip, fuzzy surface. The tie-around-ones-neck kind of sweaters.
Berk online?
Cuccinelli - too fashionable
Doriani?
"Berk online?"
^Who's that?
Loro Piana? Maybe.
Any more ideas?
Forget Berk. The company was sold and now just sells William Lockie at a premium price point. Check out Heather Wallace for Cashmere, it's Lockie's online shop. Don't ignore Italian cashmere, the designs are more fashion forward but the quality is definitely there. If you want the real thing, Charvet in Paris still has some old Ballantynes.
Interesting - will be in Pari,s soon, and, check, it, out,
Last edited by The_Shooman (2016-05-01 16:46:34)
The Tolaga Bay Cashmere company in New Zealand is supposed to be very good also.
http://cashmere.co.nz/
Paul & Shark - here it is a fashion brand for elderly men, with a lot of marine/nautical themed embroidery, not seen as particularly high end/sophisticated.
Here's a nice looking jumper for you.
http://www.mytheresa.com/en-au/wetterhorn-knitted-cashmere-sweater-496299.html?gclid=CNPH5pO2uswCFQF7vQodp3wCuQ
Some crazy prices for a pullovers!
Last edited by The_Shooman (2016-05-04 00:48:24)
Johnstone's of Elgin seconded. I have a couple, one of which is >10 yrs old and going strong.
Brora also nice, though limited men's selection.
It also says so on their website. The old Ballantyne Mill was later renamed Caerlee mill, which closed down. Their buldings were demolished and all the old looms were destroyed. Compare the colour charts of Berk to those on the Heather Wallace website or on the A. Hume webstite, they're exactly the same. William Lockie's Melrose style is also the exact same as Berk's Lorne. I remember a post somewhere from a person from Innerleithen who talked about how the old intarsia jumpers were made and who wrote some things about the production there, I think he was open about people approaching him. The knowledge of the people certainly isn't lost, so maybe they approached the former staff. I don't want to talk them down but Lockie charges half of what Berk charge.
I think newer cashmere is unlike any old cashmere out there, both because of the quality of the yarns, back then the goats weren't shorn as frequently and only the best fibres were used, and the knitting. My grandmother still has some old Ballantyne and Pringle jumpers from 40 or more years ago. The quality is unlike anything I've seen in the last few years. Tightly knit, very thick and still keep their shape, more recent stuff doesn't come remotely close to it.
Last edited by The_Shooman (2016-05-04 16:30:39)
I second Hepcat's view on 1980s Pringle jumpers.
I had 3 merino wool ones which lasted a lifetime.
Thanks for the Johnstons idea, Shoey.
Re JoE: I had a look at their website; which of the sweaters are slim fit and which are not?
Maybe someone of you has also read that JoE opened a shop in Mayfair?
Just read that JoE call it "saddle shoulder" ,
Need to stock up but at the moment they dont have pastels.
Simon Crompton reporting what Shooey posted some time ago. It still surprises me that the colour chart is the same as William Lockie's and that the models look exactly the same.
https://www.permanentstyle.com/2016/10/get-the-last-ballantyne-cashmere-ever.html