Discover our carefully curated selection of vintage knitwear: cashmere sweaters, mohair cardigans, fine merino turtlenecks, archive knit dresses and rare collector pieces from the world's most celebrated houses. Every piece is hand-evaluated by our team on avenue Louise and comes with a certificate of authenticity. Because exceptional knitwear is not just warmth — it is the most intimate expression of material intelligence in a wardrobe.
Knitwear in fashion history: from functional warmth to the pinnacle of material luxury
Knitwear's trajectory in fashion history is one of the most remarkable stories of a garment category's transformation: from the fisherman's jersey and the workman's guernsey to the double-faced cashmere cardigan coat of The Row retailing at $4,500, the hand-loomed mohair sweater of Acne Studios becoming one of the decade's most recognisable accessories, and the Issey Miyake pleated knit dress becoming a permanent fixture in design museum collections worldwide.
The critical moment in knitwear's elevation came in the 1960s and 1970s, when designers including Sonia Rykiel — who became known as the "Queen of Knits" for her precise, body-conscious jersey pieces — and Missoni, with their extraordinary kaleidoscopic zigzag knits, demonstrated that knit construction could achieve the same complexity, sophistication and commercial desirability as woven tailoring. Coco Chanel had anticipated this a generation earlier, introducing jersey into couture in the 1910s, but it was Rykiel and Missoni who made knitwear a genuinely ambitious creative territory. In the decades that followed, designers from Azzedine Alaïa (whose engineered jersey constructions are among the most technically complex garments ever produced in knit) to Jil Sander (whose restrained, exceptional cashmere pieces defined a particular vision of minimalist luxury) expanded the category's possibilities still further.
At Les Enfants d'Édouard, our vintage knitwear selection spans this rich history: from Sonia Rykiel and Missoni archive pieces to Acne Studios mohair, from Alaïa body-conscious jersey to The Row double-faced cashmere, from Lemaire's considered merino to the archive knitwear of Comme des Garçons and Yohji Yamamoto. Every piece is evaluated for fibre quality, condition, construction and design significance.
Our knitwear categories
Cashmere sweaters and cardigans
The cashmere sweater is the most universally prized piece in vintage knitwear — a category where age and provenance can work entirely in the buyer's favour, as high-grade cashmere genuinely improves with careful washing and wearing, developing a softness that new production cannot replicate. Archive cashmere from The Row, Lemaire, Jil Sander and the great Scottish and Italian knitwear producers represents the highest tier of our cashmere selection.
Mohair and wool sweaters
The oversized mohair sweater — particularly the Acne Studios fringe-trimmed version that became one of the decade's defining accessories — is among the most actively traded pieces in contemporary vintage fashion. Archive Acne Studios mohair in rare colourways, together with vintage Sonia Rykiel, vintage Italian mohair pieces and the occasional exceptional Scottish hand-knit, define this category in our selection.
Fine knit turtlenecks and polo necks
The fine knit turtleneck, in cashmere, merino or silk blend, is one of fashion's most enduringly useful foundation pieces — the garment that anchors a sophisticated layering composition as successfully as it works alone. Archive pieces from Jil Sander, Lemaire and the great Italian knitwear specialists are particularly prized in our selection.
Knit dresses
The knit dress occupies a uniquely broad spectrum: from Alaïa's body-conscious engineered constructions to the relaxed, precisely proportioned knit dress of Lemaire or Celine Philo, from Missoni's exuberant zigzag column to the considered merino dress of Sofie d'Hoore. Our knit dress selection spans this full range.
Archive and conceptual knitwear
Comme des Garçons's deconstructed knit experiments, Yohji Yamamoto's oversized black knit constructions, Issey Miyake's Pleats Please knit pieces and the technically complex engineered knitwear of Alaïa represent the most conceptually significant tier of our knitwear selection.
How to evaluate vintage knitwear
Evaluating vintage knitwear requires attention to several combined criteria. Here are the 7 checkpoints we systematically apply at avenue Louise.
1. The label and attribution
Every piece carries a verified attribution, with label design cross-referenced against our database for the specific house, fibre content and era.
2. The fibre quality
Fibre quality is the primary differentiator in knitwear. Grade A cashmere has a specific softness, weight and warmth that distinguishes it immediately from lower-grade blends; mohair has characteristic fluffy lightness; merino has a fine, smooth drape. We assess fibre quality by hand and nose — synthetic blends or low-quality natural fibres are immediately apparent.
3. The knit construction
The construction of a knit piece — whether hand-loomed, machine-knit, fully fashioned or cut-and-sewn — significantly affects both its quality and its longevity. Fully fashioned knitwear (where each panel is knit to shape rather than cut from a flat piece of fabric) is generally superior and can be identified by the characteristic "linking" at the seams.
4. The condition and pilling
Pilling is the most common condition issue in vintage knitwear. We assess the degree of pilling and whether it can be removed without damage to the fabric surface. Significant pilling in areas of high wear (underarms, elbows) can reduce a piece's visual appeal substantially. We note and grade all pilling in our condition assessments.
5. The structure and shape retention
Knitwear that has been hung rather than stored flat may have stretched at the shoulders or lengthened in the body. We assess whether any such distortion is reversible through appropriate care and whether the piece still reads as the intended silhouette.
6. Any moth damage
Moth damage is a specific risk in natural fibre knitwear. We inspect every piece carefully for evidence of moth activity (irregular holes, weakened fabric areas) and never offer moth-damaged pieces for sale without full and clear disclosure.
7. Design significance
We assess each piece's connection to the designer's broader creative vocabulary and its continuing relevance within a contemporary wardrobe context.
Our method: at Les Enfants d'Édouard, every knitwear piece undergoes a three-stage examination — visual inspection, technical verification (fibre, construction, condition) and design assessment. Every authenticated piece comes with our certificate of authenticity.
Size guide for vintage knitwear
| FR/EU | IT | UK | US | Chest (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34–36 | 38–40 | 6–8 | 2–4 | 80–87 |
| 38 | 42 | 10 | 6 | 88–91 |
| 40 | 44 | 12 | 8 | 92–95 |
| 42 | 46 | 14 | 10 | 96–99 |
| 44 | 48 | 16 | 12 | 100–104 |
Sizing notes
Knitwear sizing is less precise than woven garment sizing, as natural fibres have inherent stretch. Oversized knitwear should be assessed by intended proportions rather than body measurement alone. For body-conscious knit pieces (Alaïa, Sonia Rykiel), actual chest and waist measurements against the flat garment are essential. Always note that vintage knitwear may have stretched with wear and storage — check the garment's actual dimensions rather than relying solely on the label size.
Why invest in vintage knitwear
Vintage knitwear represents one of the most compelling propositions in the secondhand luxury market for a simple reason: exceptional natural fibre knitwear, properly maintained, improves with age. A Grade A cashmere sweater from The Row or Lemaire, carefully washed and stored, develops a softness over years of wear that new production cannot replicate. An archive Acne Studios mohair in a rare colourway is genuinely difficult to replace. And a vintage Missoni zigzag in excellent condition is both a wearable daily piece and a culturally significant object with a genuine and growing resale market.
For those wishing to sell vintage knitwear, we offer an expert consignment service.
Our knitwear selection in Brussels, avenue Louise
Our boutique Les Enfants d'Édouard, 175 avenue Louise, 1050 Brussels, carries a curated selection of vintage knitwear, sourced from European collectors and private consignors. We welcome you Tuesday to Saturday and offer private appointments outside regular opening hours.
Care and maintenance of vintage knitwear
For cashmere, hand wash in cold water with a specialist cashmere detergent, gently squeezing rather than rubbing. Roll in a clean towel to remove excess water and lay flat to dry on a clean, dry surface. Never hang — even dry cashmere will distort under its own weight. Store folded in breathable cotton bags with natural moth repellents (cedar, lavender). Pilling can be removed with a cashmere comb or a specialist fabric shaver.
For mohair, hand wash gently in cold water or dry clean. Lay flat to dry. Mohair fibres are delicate and should not be agitated vigorously. Store folded with moth repellents.
For merino and wool, machine wash on a delicate cold cycle in a protective mesh bag, or hand wash. Lay flat to dry. Iron on the lowest setting under a damp cloth if pressing is required.
Frequently asked questions about vintage knitwear
Which vintage knitwear is most sought-after?
Acne Studios mohair and wool scarves and sweaters in rare colourways, The Row double-faced cashmere pieces, Lemaire merino and cashmere knitwear, archive Sonia Rykiel jersey pieces, Missoni zigzag knit dresses and separates, Alaïa body-conscious jersey pieces, and any documented archive knitwear from the Japanese avant-garde (Comme des Garçons, Yohji Yamamoto, Issey Miyake).
Can vintage knitwear be repaired?
Yes — small holes and loose threads in knitwear can often be invisibly repaired by a specialist in knitwear restoration, a craft known as reweaving or invisible mending. Our team can recommend trusted knitwear restoration specialists in Brussels on request.
What warranty do you offer on vintage knitwear?
Every piece sold by Les Enfants d'Édouard is guaranteed as described, with a certificate of authenticity for signed pieces and 14 days to return (return shipping costs excluded).
Discover also
- Jackets and coats: the outermost layer of great design
- Dresses: from day to evening, across the great houses
- Tops and T-shirts: from printed silk to archive logo pieces
- Trousers: precision and drape
- All our clothing: our full ready-to-wear selection
- Journal: our guides and advice
Looking for vintage knitwear?
Browse our full knitwear selection or book an appointment with our team for a private viewing on avenue Louise.
- ✓ Guaranteed authentication: every piece verified
- ✓ Secure delivery: Belgium, France, Europe
- ✓ 14-day returns: satisfaction guaranteed
- ✓ Boutique at 175 Avenue Louise: 1050 Brussels