Remember that time when I launched my own brand with a few friends? Back before we all knew what coronavirus was, or what 9% inflation felt like? Back before the tech bubble imploded and international supply chains exploded? I certainly remember, and I’m guessing some of you do too. I think it would be fair to say that things didn’t go according to plan, and nor did the continuous onslaught of “unprecedented times” create a good environment for launching a side hustle. But be that as it may, we never stopped tinkering around and I am happy to announce that I have an update. And it only took three years!
When I launched the donegal sweaters right before “2020 happened” they were the first product that came out even better than I had hoped. These new sweaters are the same as the ones we sold back then, with the addition of a much-needed label and two wonderful new colors – Granite and Atlantic. Both came out stupendously and are vying for first place in my heart. Granite looks amazing with denim, and Atlantic is killer with gray flannel. But really, all of them are super fun to wear with just about anything (as long as the weather cooperates).
Donegal Sweater Overview
The sweaters are made out of merino wool from Australia (where the most prized Merino sheep are). The wool is then sent to Donegal, Ireland, a remote area known for its fabrics that have flecks of color. While the word “donegal” pops up frequently in menswear, it’s rarely from the actual placed that came up with this style. This yarn is the real deal – Donegal with a capital D.
Once the yarn is woven, it heads to an equally remote part of Scotland that is known for its knitters. The knitting factory is family owned, and has been operating for over 100 years. They specialize in fully-fashioned knits – the result is a sweater with no seams at all, knit into one continuous piece. The awesome saddle shoulder construction and deeply ribbed cuffs, neck, and waist are all really wonderful to look at and wear.
Pricing and Ordering
These sweaters are in stock and will be shipping out early next week. As far as price goes – while I can’t say that I have any Black Friday promotions planned, we did decide to keep the same price as when these were first listed in early 2020. Margins are tighter this time around given the general state of things but I am confident that you can’t find a similar product anywhere near our $175 price.
It feels a bit worn out to say quantities are limited, so let’s just say that I don’t have the cash reserves to fund a deep production run. So we have some, but not a lot, and when they’re gone it’s hard to say when they may return. I am personally very pleased with how these came out, and can’t wait to start sending these out soon – better late than never, right?
Thank you all for the patience, and I look forward to future updates with this project. I can’t promise they’ll be frequent – I always seem to have more ideas than I do free time – but hopefully it will be a bit less than three years of waiting this time around.
