The world is going to be casual for a while going forward, thanks to Covid. Pandemic or not, however, one sartorial truth remains clear: casual does not mean sloppy. To that end, we’re doing a product spotlight on custom sweaters.
Sweaters & Your Image
Most of us have a few sweaters in our closets. For most professionals, they’re relegated to weekend-wear. They’re more casual, but if we dive a bit deeper, they project a “softer” image. This seems a bit abstract, sure. But it makes sense when you compare it to the “harder” image you get from the crisp, clean lines of a tailored custom sport jacket. An excellent case study is the opening scene from “A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood,” wherein Tom Hanks’ Mr. Rogers enters his home wearing a blazer and almost immediately changes into a sweater.
Now that so many of us will be working from home as the weather cools off, sweaters and other casual knit wear will go from weekend gear to workaday uniform. The appearance will still be softer than a suit, and you should keep that in mind depending on who you’re Zooming with. With that said, a sweater will offer you increased comfort and, when well-tailored from quality material, a “work-from-home-professional” look.
Details For Custom Knitwear
The experience of creating custom sweaters at Henry A. Davidsen is very similar to the experience of creating our other garments in that you have a full range of aesthetic choices at your disposal, and the fit is spot-on.
The materials we use are either 100% merino wool, 100% cashmere, a silk/cashmere blend, or pima cotton (for spring sweaters). All are available in a wide range of colors. Like our custom polos, you can “tip” the cuffs or hem of a sweater in a contrasting color and select button stitch colors for added visual interest. You can even monogram your initials into the knitted weave itself!
Additionally, any custom sweater cloth we offer is available in a range of gauges, which refers to the fineness of the ribbing and the overall weight of the finished garment. Higher gauges will have fine, thin ribs, and lower gauges will have thicker, wider ribs (think cable-knits and the like). We recommend high-gauge knits for dressier looks and low-gauge knits for more casual looks.
Types of Sweaters Available
While the color and material are obviously important, you might be wondering, “What sweater styles can you make?” Thankfully, we have plenty to choose from (and this isn’t even a complete list!):
- V-neck (with either a low, medium, or high “V” position)
- Crew neck
- Mock neck
- Hoodie & jogger pant sets
- Turtle neck
- Polo
- Shawl collar
- Cardigan (single-or double-breasted)
- 1/4 Zip
- Full Zip
- Sweater vests
Whether your tastes are simple and conservative or bold and outgoing, we can make you sweaters you’ll actually be excited to wear.
Custom Sweater Process & Pricing
Our process is simple: after designing your sweater, we take various measurements off of your body and discuss how you prefer your sweaters to fit. Some men gravitate toward slimmer fits and others to more relaxed ones, but either way, we’re here to guide you.
After 4-6 weeks, your sweaters will arrive at our shop. There’s still plenty of time to get a few into works before the cold really kicks in.
Our custom sweaters range from $190 to $1000 depending on the material and gauge. On average, clients spend between $300-$600 and most clients end up choosing the luxurious cashmere for its softness and comfy feel.
How To Wear Sweaters
Keep your eyes peeled for an upcoming post on how to make a custom sweater look its best.
Next Steps & Further Reading
We’ve always been a proponent of feeling your best by looking your best. Though many may not be dressing to the level they once were (for the time being), it’s still important to make sure our casual wardrobes ensure we feel good and thus perform well.
Ready to get started designing your own custom sweaters? Give us a call at 215-310-0219 or email us at info@henrydavidsen.com to start a conversation.
