Identifying Vintage Cashmere
During the past six decades or
so, there have been literally hundreds of
manufacturers of cashmere garments. Some of the
manufacturers are known for their exquisite
products, while others have turned out
sub-standard garments. If the label of a
cashmere product indicates "Made in Scotland" it
is normally indicative of a high quality
product. Scottish mills such as Pringle,
Ballantyne, Braemar, and Lyle & Scott have
produced, and in many cases are still producing,
sweaters which are considered top-of-the-line.
It is believed that the water is a factor in
generating soft fine cashmere sweaters because
when the fibers are washed, they become softer.
During the late 1950's and on into the 1960's
Hong Kong was responsible for producing high
quality lambswool and angora blends, which are
almost as soft as cashmere. In fact, it is
difficult to tell whether or not they are
actually cashmere if the tags are missing. Some
of the more beautifully decorated cashmere
sweaters were also produced in Hong Kong.
In the United States, the two biggest labels for
fine quality sweaters were Dalton and Hadley.
Many of the Dalton sweaters are two-tone,
usually a beautiful colored sweater with white
trim. The Dalton sweaters were quite intricate
in their detail, some with scalloped edges and
others with beautiful appliqués. In fact, Dalton
is known for their beautiful appliquéd sweaters.
Tina Lesser was a designer that was popular with
Dalton.
Many major department stores carried fine
cashmere and camelhair sweaters which were
manufactured by Hadley. In fact there was a line
of sweaters called Cashmere Soufflé, which were
made with 6 or 8-ply yarn, as compared to the
normal 2- or 3-ply yarns which are used in most
sweaters. Many famous designers during the
1950's, 60's and 70's designed beautiful
cashmere sweaters. Halston was known for his
beautiful work with cashmere in the 1970's.
During the 1950's and 60's Schiaparelli had a
line of evening sweaters. Some of these cashmere
sweaters were adorned with rhinestones or beads
or other ornamentations.
Companies such as Ballentyne and The Knittery
used designers such as Bonnie Cashion who
designed beautiful sweaters.
Some of the other sweaters which were highly
prized and collected were designed by master
designers such as Helen Bond Carruthers, Pat
Baldwin and Edith Salzman.
These “designer” sweaters are timeless and are
certainly an asset to any lucky woman's
wardrobe.
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