The Global Appeal of the Shetland Knit

The Shetland sheep is a handsome creature, with a squat build and an amiable personality. A sheep that, so says the Livestock Conservancy anyway, is “calm and charming in disposition, docile and intelligent.” Along with being the kind of sheep that you might want to have a pint with, the Shetland also produces some of the best and most distinctive wool around. A long, soft and strong fibre that is, typically, plucked instead of shorn and has put this hardy sheep’s namesake home — the rocky and weather-beaten archipelago that juts unforgivingly out towards the maw of the North Atlantic, the outer, outer reaches of Great Britain, on the map.

Which brings us conveniently to our latest batch of Shetland knits. We return to the style with a brushed version in a pick and mix range of colours. It is soft while retaining the characteristic texture and gentle coarsness that makes a Shetland special. Made in Scotland (and photographed in sunny Edinburgh) its seamless construction allows for complete comfort and ease of movement, while its slightly raised neckline gives it a subtle, nautical finish. It’s a piece of knitwear that works under a Games blazer, over an oxford shirt and even - on those approximately six days a year when the weather is just right - with a pair of shorts and loafers.

Purple Brushed Shetland Crew Neck Jumper

So the next time you find yourself on a craggy and beautiful Scottish archipelago, the Atlantic wind stinging your skin as it whips through the crofts and peatlands; the stony ground crunching beneath your feet, keep an eye out for a squat and good-natured flock of sheep. Give them a wave and say a little thank you, because without them and some enterprising islanders, menswear wouldn't quite be the same.

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