The Story, in brief

In the beginning, fisherman wore sweater coats when braving the unforgiving coasts of England and France. They were hand-knitted with unscoured wool to retain natural oils that repel water and protect against the tumult of the icy cold seas.

In 1856, James Brudenell, the 7th Earl of Cardigan, battled Russia in Balaclava. He gave his soldiers sweaters that buttoned, and were trimmed with furs and braids. These garments inspired his 600-strong cavalry to engage an entire militia – who thought they were drunk. Alfred Lord Tennyson eulogized the epic defeat days later in “The Charge of the Light Brigade", which helped popularize the battle vestments. To this day, the cardigan sweater reflects it’s heroic origins, born in the valley of defeat, only to rise as one of the most propitious pieces of attire in modern couture.

My affair with cardigans began 13 years ago, when my wife gave me her grandfather’s Lacoste cardigan, which is Shamrock green and adorned with an alligator patch. It accompanies me in my travels, reeks of roasted espresso, and provides occasional genius. It has sparked conversations with friends and strangers, and helped bridge the artificial chasms of gender, age, ethnicity and ideology. I now have a box of cardigans, which I unpack when the wind becomes brisk with Arctic air and the leaves of the forest reveal their autumnal colors.

I expect nothing unusual when I wear them, but often find that serendipity follows me closely when I do. In this I am not alone, Cardigan People.

Team ...... Coming Soon!