Recent Purchases
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@tfar:
Seul, that's funny. The polos and the indigo pajama pants were what I flipped on, too. Really nice polos.
Beatle, the shiny material is most likely mercerized cotton. That means it's the finest and most durable cotton you can find. It wears nicer than silk. I have many mercerized cotton undershirts, t-shirts and polos. Some of them are 23 years old and have literally hundreds of washes behind them while still looking like new. The price on those is totally OK. Cerruti and Zimmerli charge at least that much if not more. The weave is a kind of pique weave, similar to Lacoste. This is actually a weave that takes quite a bit of material and much more expensive machines than a flat weave but is very open and airy, as you can see in the pictures.
The dark blue and grey polos are really super nice. The only thing I'm not sure about is the pocket. But it definitely doesn't look like a polyester shirt.
You are right once again on the Sunspel(i can't believe i forgot about them). However Zimmerli are a notch up on the material
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@tfar:
Seul, that's funny. The polos and the indigo pajama pants were what I flipped on, too. Really nice polos.
Beatle, the shiny material is most likely mercerized cotton. That means it's the finest and most durable cotton you can find. It wears nicer than silk. I have many mercerized cotton undershirts, t-shirts and polos. Some of them are 23 years old and have literally hundreds of washes behind them while still looking like new. The price on those is totally OK. Cerruti and Zimmerli charge at least that much if not more. The weave is a kind of pique weave, similar to Lacoste. This is actually a weave that takes quite a bit of material and much more expensive machines than a flat weave but is very open and airy, as you can see in the pictures.
The dark blue and grey polos are really super nice. The only thing I'm not sure about is the pocket. But it definitely doesn't look like a polyester shirt.
You are right once again on the Sunspel(i can't believe i forgot about them). However Zimmerli are a notch up on the material
Of course, they are a notch up - on material and price. Just like John Smedley is probably a bit nicer, too. For really nice mercerized cotton also see Lisanza and Grigio Perla. Still those Cerruti shirts I got have not yet found an equal and I own shirts by all those brands. The funniest thing is that those Cerrutis are actually the model that Don Johnson wears in Miami Vice; you know with the button placket.
Do you have a Sunspell polo? If so, how do you like them?
Till
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It 'aint IH or denim but it's ethos is like IH.
Hand knitted on the Shetland Islands with care and attention to detail as it has been for 100 years or more.
The quality is superb and it looks great with my IH.
[pictures deleted by the member] -
Thanks Shub.
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I realise it is not to everyone's taste but the quality is superb.
They will even knit it to your specific size if the standard one's not right, and for no extra cost.
It's a real cottage industry, knitted by women (mostly) in there own homes on the Shetland Islands who get paid a percentage of the sale price.
I think it's good to support stuff like this, all part of our national heritage, but no good if you don't like it
Simon -
trippleterror, I am loving that Sweater! I would definitely wear that with a classic white oxford, my IH-634S, and some nice suede bucs = LandoCal126 (Seasonal Casual Wear Edition)
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If anyones interested have a look at these links.
http://www.thistleandbroom.com/shopping/apparel/ (expensive but superb)
http://www.shetlandknitwear.com/Home.aspx (really helpful)
http://www.shetland-handknits.co.uk/welcome.html (I have a Prince of Wales from her)Rakuten are in Japan (I imagine alot of you know that anyway) but Jamiesons told me that 90% of their production goes there.
Lando, I tend to wear light blue or cream oxford twill. I wear white to work all the time so I need the change !
Simon -
@simon626:
Cerruti Shirts without breaking the bank
Thank You for the knowledge Till, i think i know where my next few work shirts will be from… ::) ::)
Simon, that does look like a nice shirt. However, the Cerruti shirts I am talking about are t-shirt/undershirt style. They are of mercerized cotton jersey with short sleeves and a button placket with three buttons. I believe the German Schiesser brand was the OEM for those.
When you say work shirts, do yo mean shirts for your work at the optics shop? That will do. But if you mean work shirt in the sense that it is used for IH shirts here, the Cerrutis you linked to are really not made for that. They are dress shirts.
TT, if that pullover was handknit in Japan with an IH label it would be $600. I love the craftsmanship and have similar sweaters but with long sleeves only.
Till
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You'd probably have to go to an actual store in a big city. Either a Cerruti store or a fine lingerie store. Have never seen the stuff online but haven't actively looked, either. The models I have are discontinued, of course, after such a long time.
If you try this http://tuttlecatalog.com/cat/shop-by-brand-zimmerli.cfm/id/1055
it should give you the same quality. That's about what I paid for the Cerruti shirts but 23 years ago. So the price on those Zimmerlis is actually good.
BTW, combining one of these really fine shirts with the heavy IH quality is precisely the kind of interesting material mix I was talking about elsewhere.
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Till
£100 to £130 will get you a real nice Fair Isle Handknit.
Simon -
Till
I'm glad that no one other than those on Shetland can make authentic Fair Isle as I think it would spoil it. Too much exposure can take away the 'special' feeling of something.
I suppose it's a bit like IH, not mass market, a bit underground but important to those who cherish it.
Long live under exposure !
Simon -
