Knitwear from huntergather

Huntergather was founded by stylist David Bradshaw (ex-GQ Style, Prada and Jil Sander) and Chris Bailey, who worked with Jigsaw Menswear in the nineties; so this is a newish brand with a pedigree. I'll return to Huntergather at a future date, but wanted to mention their Aran and Shetland knitwear, which I came across recently. 

huntergather Aran crew neck jumper, available in grey and biscuit

I've become very keen traditional knitwear; its simplicity of shape, material and design makes the humble jumper a classic that will endure. 

Trying on a blue Shetland crew neck jumper from Huntergather, also available in grey, pink and yellow

David Bradshaw, Partner & Creative Director, sees things this way too, commenting to me that:

'In matters of style men always seem to need some kind of validation. So, if somewhere there's a photo of a style icon, say Steve McQueen, wearing a particular piece of clothing, say an Aran sweater, it will always be used as a tool to persuade us that something we might have considered dowdy is really rather cool...

...and [David Bradshaw continues] there was a time when every self respecting mod, Paul Weller included, considered a Shetland sweater essential to coolness - and lets face it, when it comes to style, and Liam would no doubt agree, Mods know what's what.

At huntergather we will always bow at the temple of cool... hence our Aran and Shetland sweaters.'

The jumpers are priced at £145 and seem to have captured that spirit of classic cool that traditional knitwear imparts.

For more on huntergather, their knitwear and other menswear, visit their website or shop at 68 Wigmore Street or Selfridges, London.

Camel knitwear - the forgotten colour?

I received this camel jumper recently from Lyle & Scott. Like much quality knitwear, it's British-made of course. But it got me thinking about camel as a colour - has it got a bit tired? Is it time for a revival?

I can remember my grandparents wearing camel knitwear. Now seen less often, as menswear becomes brighter, it pairs well with most hues. Originally made from camel hair, the name now usually describes the colour. While camel knitwear is generally made from merino, angora, Shetland, cashmere etc., real camel hair can be found, as you'll see below.

Camel can give a pale, washed out look to those who are fair of skin and hair, but this is easily overcome with a brighter splash in shirt, tie, scarf or trousers. I'd use it with all types of blue - denim, bright, indigo, pale. What would you add?

Cashmere camel jumper from Johnstons of Elgin

Wear camel knitwear casually with jeans, chinos or cords - more formally with a tweed jacket or blazer.

Suppliers -

Lyle & Scott
Albam (Shetland wool sweater in goldcrest).

Drake's

Mr Porter

Johnston's of Elgin

Other places to look -

Marks & Spencer

Alan Paine

John Smedley

Quiggleys and Bowmont Devon cashmere collaboration

I was touched to receive this e-mail this week from Chris of Quiggleys (whose made in Scotland knitwear has appeared before on Grey Fox):

"Hello David

Well I thought you might be interested in this as you are 100% responsible for it. 

Following my visit to Lesley [of Bowmont and Devon Fine Fibres] and her amazing goats you might remember you Tweeted asking what we were planning together. I replied we were going to make a hat which, as I typed, it made me realise that, of all the things we could do with this amazing yarn, a hat was hardly the most exciting. 

So thanks to your Tweet, we've made a jumper (as well as the hat) and here it is. This is just the first sample (sleeves need a bit of attention) and it’s only me, photographed by me in my back garden, but I thought you’d like to see what you had an accidental hand in. 

I'm heading to Ardnamurchan (as in Ardnamurchan Point on the shipping forecast) to shoot all the new styles for this Autumn, so will hopefully have some slightly more interesting photos of this soon and all the new styles on the website in 2-3 week time.

So thanks for your input and I hope you like it. 

Chris.

PS: It is softest best cashmere ever".

I will update you on this exciting collaboration when I have some more images. 

Meanwhile visit Quiggleys website to see their beautiful British-made knitwear and see Bowmont and Devon Fine Fibres for more information on her remarkable cashmere goats and merino sheep.

Click here for previous articles on Quiggleys on Grey Fox Blog.

Fair Isle knitwear - perfect for spring menswear

With the weather warming up at last, jumpers can be worn without covering jackets, so it's time to bring out colour and pattern on chilly days. One of my favourite traditional knitwear patterns is Fair Isle. Originally from a small island lying half way between the Shetland and Orkney Isles off the north of Scotland, it became popular in the twenties when adopted it was by the then Prince of Wales, snappy dresser indeed.

The increasing popularity of home-grown traditional knitwear has seen the revival of Arans, Guernseys, fisherman's and seamen's sweaters as well as the highly-decorated and complex Fair Isle.Worn with jeans and brogues, they make an unusual but traditional statement.

As the genuine article comes from the islands, I'm giving you the web address of Fair Isle's website, where you can find details of workers from whom you can commission the real thing. I would try to avoid buying cheap copies made outside the UK. See, for example, the beautiful work from Exclusively Fair Isle.

The Grey Fox Ginormous Christmas Jumper Guide

The Christmas sweater has generally been considered as something to avoid by the discerning man of style. However, the traditionally-patterned jumper is being reassessed by even Scrooge-like sartorialists. It is finding its way back onto the ski slopes and being worn seriously in a way not seen since the sixties.

You can now be festive while retaining some semblance of good taste. Here's a selection of Scandinavian-style and other knitwear to suit most budgets.

If you market a Christmas jumper of quality that's not here, please let me know.

ADDENDUM - Having posted this I see that Save the Children are raising funds through a Christmas Jumper Day on Friday (14th December). To encourage you to donate, Jon Snow appears in his jumper at the end of this post -

Brunello Cucinelli, Harrods

Joe Casely-Hayford for John Lewis

Ami

APC

Drake's

Joe Casely-Hayford for John Lewis

Peregrine

Tommy Hilfiger

Canterbury

Moncler

Boden

D S Dundee

Ralph Lauren

Alan Paine

J Crew

J Crew

Penfield

Gant

Gant

Gant

Polo Ralph Lauren

North Sea Clothing

Gap

Save the Children