Scottish Cashmere Sweaters

[itsstillmatt]

Originally Posted by RJman

Laing kept going in and out of bankruptcy. However, they were being carried by Ben Silver -- I'd check their website -- and as of a few years ago, Maus & Hoffman. Additionally, a few Scottish cashmere houses sell direct -- check if Laing has a working website and if it offers that service. I echo what you say about Laing versus Johnstons. I fear that in the end there will be no more of the tightly woven,soft but substantial cashmere, that was typical of the best Scottish cashmere houses. The best cashmere qualities are too expensive to survive on selling alone; the focus is on Italian cashmere that typically feels softer and mushier from the get-go, and on expanding into a luxury brand like Piana or Cucinelli -- or the new Ballantyne -- without retaining focus on quality basic product.
Cable Car's stock of cashmere v-necks and cardigans was Laing the last time I checked. It isn't like they turn over their inventory very often. Great stuff.

 

[RJman]

Originally Posted by iammatt

Cable Car's stock of cashmere v-necks and cardigans was Laing the last time I checked. It isn't like they turn over their inventory very often. Great stuff.

Good call on CCC.

Also, I have to say the Scott & Charters cashmere shawl-collar cardigan on Kabbaz's site looks amazing. S&C's regular-style cashmere sweaters were sold at Bromley's, too -- www.classic-wardrobe.co.uk

I believe some John Laing may be/have been sold online at Stewarts of Stirling (google it).

Also, Robert Old (Google it) sold good quality Scottish cashmere from one of the producers named here IMMSMC.

 

[bengal-stripe]

Originally Posted by Mr. Moo

I have a Ballantyne sport coat. Any thoughts about it? Were/are Ballantyne known for tailored goods?

That is something that has only happened in recent years, it coincides with promoting the company as "˜designer' not as a manufacturer. (Designers sell a total "˜lifestyle' under one roof.)

Apart from tailored clothing Ballantyne also offers leather goods. (I suppose, it is fair to presume, neither the tailored stuff nor leather is actually produced by the company.)

 

[RJman]

Originally Posted by bengal-stripe

That is something that has only happened in recent years, it coincides with promoting the company as ‘designer’ not as a manufacturer. (Designers sell a total ‘lifestyle’ under one roof.)

Apart from tailored clothing Ballantyne also offers leather goods. (I suppose, it is fair to presume, neither the tailored stuff nor leather is actually produced by the company.)

Correct, with the caveat that plenty of hoary old tweed jackets from places like Dunn & Co (sort of a British Sears or Ohrbachs) have a label saying they were made from Ballantyne-spun cloth.

The new licensed Ballantyne clothing brings to mind the Brunello Cucinelli tailored clothing line. Same level of pretention and quality.

 

[Baron]

I'm glad I have a small hoard of 60's era cashmere Pringles and a single vintage Ballantyne v-neck. The quality is remarkable and it dwarfs the newer high end Italian stuff. It never seems to wear down, lose it's shape or pill. The Pringle stuff was my dad's and I've been wearing them for 20 years now.

 

[itsstillmatt]

Originally Posted by Baron

I'm glad I have a small hoard of 60's era cashmere Pringles and a single vintage Ballantyne v-neck. The quality is remarkable and it dwarfs the newer high end Italian stuff. It never seems to wear down, lose it's shape or pill. The Pringle stuff was my dad's and I've been wearing them for 20 years now.
I remember tossing a lot of this stuff a few years ago while helping my parents move. Some Made in Scotland for Wilkes stuff from the 70s and early 80s. Really dumb on my part.

 

[aportnoy]

Has anyone mentioned Alan Paine yet? My first cashmere sweaters came from Paine via a trip to London and they wore like iron and stayed soft as can be. I think I had one in yellow, one in mid gray and one in navy.

On the Cucinelli tailored sportswear, I love it. The sport coats are great weekend wear and I'm just not understanding the hate. They are crazy overpriced, but that is harldy unique to Cucinelli.

 

[RJman]

Paine was made in England. Now it is made in China.

 

[LabelKing]

Originally Posted by iammatt

I remember tossing a lot of this stuff a few years ago while helping my parents move. Some Made in Scotland for Wilkes stuff from the 70s and early 80s. Really dumb on my part.

To the thrift stores?

 

[voxsartoria]

Originally Posted by aportnoy

Has anyone mentioned Alan Paine yet? My first cashmere sweaters came from Paine via a trip to London and they wore like iron and stayed soft as can be. I think I had one in yellow, one in mid gray and one in navy.

Yes:

Originally Posted by voxsartoria

I still have five cable-knit Alan Paine cashmere crewnecks that I bought in the late 1980s when the Paine family still owned the company and produced things to their accumstomed standards. The Paines sold the first cable stitch patterns back in the early 20th century. The family sold off the company in the early 1990s, I think.

The cashmere is thick and meaty, dense. Even after all this time, the knits are as resilient and pill-free as when I got them.

I haven't seen any seen cashmere sweaters of more recent vintage that seem to be as good. Quite a few are rather terrible.


- B

Wore one of my old Paine's earlier today:




[click photo for closeup]

Didn't you pick up a six-ply Kiton-branded number this past year or so? How is that?

- B

 

[itsstillmatt]

Originally Posted by LabelKing

To the thrift stores?
I think to some place that give clothing to homeless people for job interviews.

 

[voxsartoria]

Originally Posted by iammatt

I remember tossing a lot of this stuff a few years ago while helping my parents move. Some Made in Scotland for Wilkes stuff from the 70s and early 80s. Really dumb on my part.

- B

 

[RJman]

Originally Posted by voxsartoria

Yes:



Wore one of my old Paine's earlier today:




[click photo for closeup]

Didn't you pick up a six-ply Kiton-branded number this past year or so? How is that?

- B
I have a bear cat coat like that. Was it that cold in Boston?

 

[voxsartoria]

Originally Posted by RJman

I have a bear cat coat like that. Was it that cold in Boston?

High 30s, low 40s, and windy.

Isn't yours alpaca? Mine is wool.


- B

 

[aportnoy]

Originally Posted by voxsartoria

Yes:



Wore one of my old Paine's earlier today:


Didn't you pick up a six-ply Kiton-branded number this past year or so? How is that?

- B

I got my first Paine's in the late 70s and early 80s. Just incredible.

I did get a handful of the Kiton six-ply cables knits and they are quite nice and the colors are especially lush. I have them in a mottled burgundy, dark green and gray.