What makes a £400 cardigan 'worth it'?

[NiceSausage]

I was thinking about this because the ONLY damn cardigan I have truly loved and which fits (perfectly) my ultimate criteria in many years of searching comes in at this price. Typical!

It is a cashmere loose fit v-neck from Johnstons of Elgin.
I have searched everywhere, from Poetry to Ebay to Vinted and have never been able to find the one in my mind. And then this turns up.

I could use my savings, which wouldn't be hurt by it, but it feels somehow off. I can't bring myself to do it. When I ask myself why, omitting financial constrains (which thankfully there aren't at the moment), it comes down to wondering whether the construction and source of this garment are actually worth it.

Does anyone know how this shit works?
How does a person qualify such expense for a transitory item? It mnight surely last for many years, but it isn't a holiday or a true life experience. I am not used to throwing money on expensive clothes.
But I adore it.

I don't want permission to purchase it, but would like some insider knowledge of why it costs what it does. I gather these are made in Scotland - great. But what does this cost truly cover? And is this just another item which lends someone status and not much else?

A pocket with £350 in notes stuffed inside.

There were some men's at woolovers that fit my description but the reviews were poor. If i am going to spend over £100 it might as well be worth it.

Had very poor cashmere previously from White Co, Cos, Jigsaw, even Brora. I am fond of Poetry but no styles suit at the moment.

There's no need to be so snippy. If you're serious about buying that cardigan it's not a transitory item. You'll have it for years- probably long after you've forgotten about a holiday.

Cardigans are the devils work. Don’t do it.

i love you!

Cashmere is always expensive. I knit with it, but I buy from somewhere which buys leftover cones from Johnston’s of Elgin and other sources. Even that way a cashmere cardigan can cost well over £100 and you still have to knit it.

At standard prices, knitting this jumper in XXL would cost over £500 just for the yarn.

I find that cashmere pills at first, but doesn’t continue to do so after you’ve taken the pills off. That may not be everyone’s experience, though.

There’s a video produced by one of the Scottish mills which shows the manufacturing process. I’ll try to find it.

I was just going to say about moths and care! I can't spend £400 on knit wear as I'm an rubbish at caring for it. I shrink, stretch of get holes in my mid priced items.
I had a cashmere jumper I loved. I thought it would be ok enclosed in a wardrobe, door kept shut. It looked like I had been riddled with bullet holes when I put it on the next autumn. Covered in moth holes.
So take the plunge but make sure you protect your joyous item!

I've regretted loads of expensive garments over the years.

The ones I didn't buy.

I sometimes add up how much I've spent on various not-quite-right items, and they never fulfilled thr exact purpose I was after. If one expensive item could replace all those and be just what I wanted to reach for on multiple occasions it would be worth it

"im not sure what a true life experience is" could be construed a snippy. We are all different.

A 'holiday' to me is seeing the people I love, the world, it's beauty, a different kind of purchase, perhaps invaluable. I am not rooted in possessions and don't forget where I travel.
That said, I am in love with this item and could forgive it anything if it didn't have such long sleeves.

Thank you for this info. I used to know a few knitters, long ago, and value your point.

I've recently treated myself to some similarly expensive items that are absolutely beautiful, fit perfectly and I have worn them and worn them. The price per wear must be almost reasonable by now.

If you can afford it and you want it, do it. Life is too short

Here’s one video.

I occasionally buy things that I ponder over a LOT and by the time they've arrived, I've had more time to think but also the opportunity to return it if it's not what I expected so I always buy.

Out of interest is cashmere itchy? I've never owned a cashmere item but real wool drives me slightly insane. I love the thought of having a beautiful timeless cashmere piece though.

But the sleeves are too long so it's not right so not worth it.
Can you get past that annoyance every time you wear it?

I had a beautiful Johnstone's of Elgin cashmere cardigan it was beautiful for the one winter I wore it but it made a gourmet meal for the moths of North London 😭

I've started trying to buy all natural fibres recently. Buying pure wool will easily push you to the 200 mark for a jumper. So it's comparatively not that much more if you love it and will wear it for years.

the sleeve are a bit long but i cant find anything else similar!

Watch the hand work going into this. It’s still not the video I was looking for but you can see the processes in the background.

Cashmere is not at all itchy, to me. I’ve just made a bag with Shetland yarn after knitting a cashmere scarf, and the Shetland feels very rough in comparison.

@MerelySnark where do you get your wool?
if I knitted it op I’d have to charge double that just to be compensated for my time. Hope that helps 😁

Be careful, I had a beautiful cashmere jumper once. Left it in the wash basket for ages as I didn't get round to taking it to the dry cleaners, and when I got it out the basket, the moths had eaten it 😭😭😭😭

I wonder if a tailor could alter the sleeves.

I read a Twitter thread about top quality cashmere Vs high street (eg m&s) and the difference it makes to wear, longevity etc. This brand was highly recommended as providing the quality you expect from cashmere.

https://riseandfall.co/collections/womens-cashmere/products/womens-cashmere-knitted-v-neck-cardigan?variant=43611083604196 I’m just showing you this so you can wail “but it’s not the same”. Get your cardigan. I bought the hoodie here in shocking pink and have got better value per wear than anything else in my wardrobe.

Ooh promising comments, thank you!

@MerelySnark thanks for your info, really appreciate it.

Unfortunately these are the wrong shape, they are only high hip length and very wide, just not what I am searching for, though they are lovely.