It’s hard being a Shetland sheep. Among the smallest of British sheep breeds, it spends its life grazing a rocky, wind-swept island chain off of Scotland’s Northern coast. But hard times create good wool. And good wool creates great sweaters.
Specifically, the Shetland sweater, knit from the hardy but soft fibers produced by the same-named sheep. Most classically presented as a crewneck sweater with ribbed trim and a saddle shoulder, it’s also—but not always—characterized by a brushed finish, traditionally accomplished by teasing out the wool with teasel flowers.
Casual, sporty and practical, it became a key component of the Ivy league look in the mid-20th century, where it was stocked by campus shops alongside oxford-cloth button downs, chinos and tweed jackets. Among the most enduring of these campus shops, J. Press, famously branded their extra-brushed version the “Shaggy Dog”, a term the business would later copyright.
Beloved by such prep luminaries as John F. Kennedy and William F. Buckley, its appeal has persisted to the present day. From designer brands like Polo Ralph Lauren and Drake’s to traditional family-owned firms including Jamieson’s of Shetland and Harley of Scotland, here’s where to get your Shetland fix this fall.
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Polo Ralph Lauren Wool Crewneck Sweater
Image Credit: Polo Ralph Lauren -
J. Press Made-in-Scotland Burgundy, Navy & Gold Shaggy Dog Frame Stripe Sweater
Image Credit: J. Press -
Campbell’s of Beauly Shetland Jumper
Image Credit: Campbell's of Beauly If you had to imagine the perfect place to buy a Shetland sweater, it would probably be a little shop in the Scottish Highlands founded during the reign of Queen Victoria. Well, that shop is Campbell’s of Beauly, which happens to sell their classically styled Shetland online if you can’t make the trip yourself.
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Anglo-Italian Crewneck Lambswool Shetland Blend Taupe
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Drake’s Green Multi Colourblock Brushed Shetland Crew Neck Jumper
Image Credit: Drake's -
William Crabtree & Sons Otter Cable Shetland Knit Jumper
Image Credit: William Crabtree & Sons -
Sunspel Shetland Crewneck Jumper
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Jamieson’s of Shetland Fair Isle Crew
Image Credit: Jamieson's of Shetland As a fifth-generation family business based in the Shetland Islands, Jamieson’s of Shetland is as O.G. as it gets. While they’ve sold Shetland yarns for well over a century, they’ve entered the knitting business as well, producing grails like this Shetland crewneck with an intricate Fair Isle pattern.
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Velasca Cordovado
Image Credit: Velasca -
Howlin’ Birth of the Cool Crewneck Sweater
Image Credit: Howlin' -
Harley of Scotland Men’s Seamless Saddle Shoulder Shetland Sweater
Image Credit: Harley of Scotland Another famous name where Shetlands are concerned, Harley of Scotland established its factory in 1929 and spent decades knitting private-label sweaters for other brands and men’s shops before launching its own label in 2000. Today its Shetlands are renowned for their traditional styling and comfortable seamless construction, a method pioneered by the brand in 2001.
