How nice issues don’t age: Cashmere scarf cardigan

January 22, 2026

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More often than not with tales in this collection, we’ve celebrated how high quality clothes turns into extra lovely with age – not like a budget product we see in every single place round us. It at all times looks like a narrative price telling, one few adverts shout about.

As we speak’s instance is barely totally different. In contrast to the patina on a pair of excellent leather-based sneakers, or the fading on a chunk of classic outerwear, this cardigan has hardly aged in any respect. It is 16 years previous, however does not look it.

The kind of ageing we’re celebrating immediately is how high quality knitwear can final a few years if cared for correctly: via pilling and washing and moths and repairs, this cashmere scarf has stood the check of the time.

The cardigan was a really form present from Michael Drake (above), again in 2009. I used to be nonetheless a full-time journalist, writing the weblog in my spare time, and one lunch break I went over to the Drake’s tie manufacturing unit to interview Michael.

The manufacturing unit was a giant, open-plan affair again then – this predates Haberdasher Avenue. The workers have been on a protracted platform raised above the manufacturing ground, and other people like Michael Hill (now, in fact, in cost) and Ann Ryley (who went to Begg & Co) had desks alongside Michael’s personal space.

We talked about many issues, together with how he most well-liked the type of the French over the Italians, and the actual delights of a 50oz silk tie. The entire place felt just like the epicentre of the craft and understated class I aspired to.

A couple of days later Michael despatched me this cardigan, and it was a most sudden and beneficiant present. We noticed one another often over the subsequent few years, usually at his favorite, the Chelsea Arts Membership.

Maybe it was as a result of the cardigan was a present, and so extra private, or as a result of it was related to that early, formative menswear expertise, however this piece has at all times been treasured to me. I’ve taken care of it pretty properly consequently.

I bear in mind I washed it a couple of months in, with a lot trepidation. I soaked it gently in lukewarm water within the bathtub, with just a little wool detergent. I then wrung it out gently in a towel, as I had heard somebody suggest. And eventually I dried it flat, slowly, on the rack that sits above our bathtub.

It took an age to dry. It was most likely solely a few days, however as a result of the remainder of the household’s washing needed to change it greater than as soon as, and the cardigan then take its place once more, it felt significantly drawn-out.

As with a lot nevertheless, the extra time I put into it the extra treasured the cardigan felt. Time is treasured.

Darning the factor wasn’t fairly so profitable. I used to be horrified – no truly, I used to be indignant – when I discovered my first moth gap. Principally indignant at myself for not taking care of it higher.

I discovered some equally colored gray wool, and I darned the opening pretty loosely. It was tough and stood out a bit, but it surely secured the opening.

The subsequent time I discovered injury, it was lots worse. The entire cuff had a minimize in it about an inch lengthy, the place the bastards had been chomping away all summer season. Once more, I confess I didn’t actually do the suitable factor however merely lived with it for some time. My moth regime improved (suggestions right here) however I didn’t restore the cardigan.

Lastly, the next 12 months, I made a decision it was price paying to restore it correctly. So I despatched it to Cashmere Circle, asking them to scrub it, de-pill and restore the holes – the complete revive service. The estimated value was £87.

Sadly, after they obtained the cardigan, they recognized a complete of 10 holes on numerous elements of it. The additional value was £88, brining the full to £175.

The holes weren’t attainable to cover fully. Above you may see the echoes of them the place the yarn seems to be the identical however the knit of the cardigan adjustments. They’re scars, however ones I worth for the story they recommend.

It’s at all times a wrench when it’s important to spend good cash on one thing you already personal (like servicing a watch) however in the long term it’s normally price it.

The knit was nearly as good as new, and I’ve continued to put on it in the identical manner ever since. In reality I’m sporting it proper now, as I write this within the airport, getting ready to fly to Pitti. I am sporting it with a knitted T-shirt and cords, although it is extra usually partnered with a T-shirt and denims, as pictured.

I’ve continued to scrub the cardigan however not often – annually on the most – and after depilling it a couple of times within the first 12 months (suggestions right here) it hasn’t wanted that since. I feel the knit is barely softer than it was at first, but it surely’s actually fairly onerous to recollect.

To me, it feels identical to the identical factor from 2009, besides with layers of expertise and that means on prime of it – and naturally higher worth the longer I’ve it.

These previous interviews with Michael Drake are price revisiting by the way in which. There’s one from April 2010 that expounds his opinions on dressing typically, saying issues similar to: “It’s not a query of getting the world’s largest wardrobe, and definitely not an elaborate one. It’s a matter of the suitable garments, that illustrate the inspiration and style of the person sporting them.” Laborious to argue with that.

There’s a short one with phrases from Bruce Boyer, and at last a very good piece I did a few years later which has strains similar to: “The French like that previous English, faculty look. The Italians, aside from Naples in fact, are way more fitted, extra self-conscious and intentionally sharper.”

All good things, and good to have it nonetheless obtainable for reference.

The cardigan is an previous mannequin, and a distinct match from the present Drake’s cardigans. It additionally initially had leather-based soccer buttons; I changed them after a couple of years.

The opposite garments proven are a white PS Tapered T-shirt, previous Levi’s Classic Clothes denims, Alden LHS snuff-suede loafers and a Frank Clegg tote.

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