As the nights grow darker earlier and the the sky turns a nasty shade of grey, even those of us who live where it’s traditionally warmer start to think about our winter wardrobe.
For me, a firm favourite is the wonderfully simple yet an iconic heavyweight, the guernsey (as opposed to the jersey) woollen sweater. The sweater has been made in Guernsey’s since the late 15th/early 16th century when a Royal grant allowed wool the imported from England and re-export as knitted goods.
The weave and “square-shaped” design of the guernsey makes it a perfect sweater for those working in the fishing community; its warm and has almost a waxen quality perfect for repelling sea spray. Additionally, the guernsey has been a trusted accompaniment to Nelson’s crew at Trafalgar and the British Army in the Middle East.
It takes an estimated eighty-four hours to make a guernsey by hand but the quality that is evident in the finished garment demonstrates true quality.
Combined with a button down collar, a regular shirt and tie or even a T shirt, the guernsey looks consistently fantastic and is now available in many colours – but I still really like the navy.
Like to know more about these fabulous sweaters – drop me a note and we’ll put you in touch with probably the best exponent of the art of making Guernsey’s key export.
Images by La Tricoteur
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