Hurray Sweater Weather

It’s December and in the northern hemisphere the weather is getting pretty nippy. So what’s the in way to stay warm for the winter of 2011-2012? According to the top ranked fashion designers it’s the cardigan, a knitted sweater with either buttons, a belt, or a zipper in the front. While some people think of cardigans as a female fashion item they’re not only popular among men now but were in fact originally created for men. While not one of the very oldest of  fashion items, the cardigan has an interesting history and range of styles all of its own. With brown wool with thick buttons and tan cotton yarn with a trendy belt, cardigans are what your fashionista consumers are looking for to keep warm.

Cardigans were originally created for British military to wear not only under their protective clothing for warmth but also as an alternative to a thin waistcoat at formal events. In fact the name “cardigan” comes from James Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan, a noted British military officer. Due to this, in its earliest days cardigans were considered semi-formal wear for men in the winter months, most often worn by men serving in the military. However in the 1960′s cardigans were adopted into popular fashion, worn by ladies and men alike with the rising popularity of not only military wears but also clothing made with natural fibers such as wool.

These days, cardigans are the chicest thing on the runways of Paris, Milan, and New York in all of the biggest fashion lines. From Chanel to Stella McCartney to Dolce & Gabbanna, unisex cardigan sweaters are all the rage. The current big trend tends to be the buttoned variety, popularized by The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton as well as her younger socialite sister Pippa Middleton, a current fashion plate whom the paparazzi can’t seem to leave alone. It should also be noted that the wool of alpacas, rather than sheep, are becoming more popular due to the less itchy quality of the fiber. Not only that but alpaca yarn tends to naturally come in rich whites, browns, and blacks thus requiring no artificial dyes unless an unusual color is desired.

Cardigans vary in price from wholesaler to wholesaler, particularly based on style and quality of the product. Fortunately though almost all reputable fashion wholesalers carry them in varying cuts and colors as well as fiber, so you can feel free to shop around and find the perfect style and price for your particular consumer base. While alpaca is the current “in” fiber we here at Retailer’s Wholesale Guide advise against getting too excited about it due to the fact that sheep’s wool or artificial wool is much cheaper than alpaca due to ease of raising and spinning. If, however, you do wish to get into this new and unique fad it might be wise to contact alpaca farmers themselves who often spin and weave their creations. They may be more expensive on initial purchase but the high price you can set for them, a standard well made alpaca wool cardigan going for about $125 retail, you can make a good profit and expect enough profit to buy something nice for everyone for the holidays.