Seams Like Old Times
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Posted by Page, Style Director
You’ve probably heard it said (over and over) that what’s old is new again, but Steven Tatar, the owner of the Ohio Knitting Mills store, has gone so far as to base his entire business on that, ahem, old saw. His shop stocks never-worn vintage sweaters in a variety of colors and patterns, all produced by an Ohio mill (of the same name) between 1947 and 1974. (The mill archived a few sweaters each time they manufactured a new line, and Steven stumbled across the boxes while looking for scrap metal in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio.) The “Virgin Vintage” sweaters come in dozens of retro-patterned, colorful styles, including sleeveless, lightweight shells for the last of the summer months, and transitional turtlenecks for those of us gearing up for fall.
Short-sleeved men’s sweaters in geometric ‘70s-style patterns are also available for hipster guys who want something a little more limited-edition than what you might find at, say, Urban Outfitters: Only a few of these original styles were archived, and when they sell out, they’re gone.
As of last week, OKM made its garments available for purchase online, but if it’s within your reach, it’s worth a trip to the brick-and-mortar retail store in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. The shop is beautiful, the
furniture impeccably chosen (some of it salvaged from the same mill), and it radiates midwestern warmth and hospitality...much like the sweaters themselves. |