"Berk online?"

^Who's that?

Interesting - will be in Pari,s soon, and, check, it, out,

The Tolaga Bay Cashmere company in New Zealand is supposed to be very good also.
http://cashmere.co.nz/

Here's a nice looking jumper for you.
http://www.mytheresa.com/en-au/wetterhorn-knitted-cashmere-sweater-496299.html?gclid=CNPH5pO2uswCFQF7vQodp3wCuQ

Last edited by The_Shooman (2016-05-04 00:48:24)

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.

Thanks for the Johnstons idea, Shoey.

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