Robert Old

[Scot]

Happy New Year chaps.

I came across this online retailer selling cashmere.

http://www.robertold.co.uk

Anyone used it? Sweaters seem to be made by William Lockie but are considerably marked up. I am wondering if there is an actual difference in quality.

[Rob O]

Happy New Year Scot. Yes I know the Robert Old products. This is a very pleasant and well-run independent men's outfitters in Bournemouth. They have a good selection of well-curated quality ready to wear from the like of Zegna, la Martina, Eton to their own high quality collection. I popped in there yesterday in fact, after a couple of days holiday by the sea with family and friends. I think there is a considerable markup on the products but the professional staff and premises warrant that. Their sales are worth waiting for. I purchased one of their own-brand cashmere shawl neck cardigans last January and found the quality to be extremely good however It was a bit too "Val Doonican" in style so I returned it. The quality of the make was great. I think at these prices though you should also check out Anderson and Sheppard's offerings.

[Concordia]

Fabulous range of colors and weights. If the quality correlates even a little to the prices, it will be a good source.

[andreyb]

I once tried to order a Lockie-made sweater featured on Old's web-site via my favourite knitwear retailer (who, as I believe, has a very reasonable markup and did one off orders of Lockie knitwear for me in the past). Lockie's answer to the retailer (and thus, me): "this model is exclusive to Robert Old". I ended up buying this particular sweater from Old's shop -- only to discover a few months later it to be very heavily discounted!

A few learnings:
1) If you are looking for basics ("standard" crew and v-necks), you definitely can get them for less.
2) For the rest, usually there is no directly comparable product available anywhere else. Or, if available, it is probably more, not less expensive! Look, for example, how much Drake's is asking for shawl-collared cashmere cardigan!
3) Quality is very good -- as expected from Lockie-made product. So much so that I ordered the sweater I mentioned at the start of this treatise again -- in another colour (and this time, on sale! ) Thus, even for full price, you get something worth investing money into.
4) As already been adviced, look for sales, which do happen from time to time.

Andrey

[Rob O]

Hi Scot,

You may wish to visit the Robert Old website now as they have commenced their online winter sale. Cashmere shawl collar cardigans down from £689 to £499.

[Concordia]

I just got one of the sale items-- a 4-ply V-neck for something like $250. I don't know if it's typical of Lockie's other work, but it is quite astoundingly good. If I had a real need of a sweater or desire for a particular color, I might even pay retail for it.