I Wore This Sweater for 30 Days Without Washing It
To be fair, the brand's Facebook group spurred me to do it.
I’m not sure where I first found them [probably an Instagram ad], but I like to think they found me. The guys at Oliver Charles, much like myself, are huge nerds. They’re product-obsessed at a micro and macro level, which I’ll get into shortly. They’re also what I would call industry outsiders—enthusiasts who, with no formal training, figured out how to make the things they wanted in a non-traditional way. Everything they’ve learned along the way has been applied to the product that we, the end users, get to experience—and we’re encouraged to share our experiences as a community, which then informs the growth and development of the brand. It’s a feedback loop that brings new meaning to the term circular fashion.
Sustainable fashion brands get lumped into this niche categorical label that I don’t think accurately describes their value. More than ethics, many brands indirectly promulgate a holistic perspective on clothing through their offerings—essentially, the experience of wearing their clothing fosters a greater intentionality. With 25k members, Oliver Charles’ Facebook group is a great microcosm of how widespread and infectious this lifestyle can become once you get a taste of it. People of all demographics—many my parents’ age—share their stories as they take part in field-testing and 7-day, 30-day, and 5-adventure challenges. Incentivized with free products and significant discounts, it’s Oliver Charles’ way of giving back to the community in a charitable way.
I reached out directly to the guys to see how I could get involved in what they were doing, and co-founder Slater recommended I give the Cable Knit sweater a shot.
Technically a winter sweater, I’ve been wearing this non-stop as spring creeps in. It’s made from a very specific type of wool called Khullu ("coo-loo"), which grows around the neck and belly of Tibetan yaks. After extensive testing, they found this fiber to be among the highest performing in the following categories: thermoregulation (keeping you from getting too hot or too cold), antimicrobial (staying fresh), moisture-wicking, and durability—see Yak Wool: The Ultimate Guide. It’s also just about as soft as most cashmere these days while being a hell of a lot more resilient. As such, I’ve found it’s the perfect layer to wear whenever the temperature dips below 65°F (18°C). Most days, I’ll throw it on with nothing underneath, or just a tee. With the warmer days ahead, I’ve also been wearing it with shorts. Though it comes in seven colors, I opted for beige, which feels the most natural and is closest to its Aran sweater roots. Compared to the Aran sweater, it’s not hand-knit by Irish grandmothers, but rather 3D-knit in one piece using state-of-the-art technology right here in Brooklyn, NY. This more elegant construction means no itchy side or shoulder seams (which also create points of weakness), a better overall fit, zero waste, and keeping jobs local. Again, they took a lot of time and money to research and invest in this, and you can find their comprehensive argument for 3D-knitting laid out here.
If Yak wool isn’t your thing, or you’re looking for a true year-round, all-conditions fabric, they’ve also invested heavily in a fiber called SeaCell. Technically a type of lyocell (an organic-derived synthetic), it’s made in a closed-loop (no solvents released into the environment) using a blend of Icelandic seaweed and Eucalyptus and Birch tree bark from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified farms, ensuring sustainable regrowth. The solvent they use to process the fiber is also certified by the FSC to be non-toxic. Like Yak wool, it’s 3D-knit, naturally soft, breathable, durable, moisture-wicking, sustainable, and machine-washable(!). I haven’t gotten my hands on it yet, but with how much focus and effort they’ve put into the fiber, I imagine it’s equally great value for your money. But onto my Cable Knit!
This thing is failproof. I’ve tried to find something I would change about it, and apart from the body being a bit long before the first wash, I’ve come up dry. I initially went for a Medium, which ended up a bit too tight and short in the arms, but I was able to exchange for a Large, which, after a single wash and flat dry in the sun, shrank to fit me perfectly. The weight is quite hefty but not heavy—it’s in that sweet spot of warmth without bulk. While the 3D-knit means there’s no seams, there’s definitely some shape to it, hugging the forearms and armpits so you can layer a jacket over easily, but blousey enough in the body that it can also layer over a shirt. The 3D-knit fabrication also gives it a good amount of body retention, meaning it hasn’t lost shape in the months I’ve been wearing it. Like the title says, I’ve gone the past 30 days of wear without washing, and there isn’t even the slightest hint of odor or stains. The only mishap I had was that a few days into wearing it, one of my dogs got their nail snagged in one of the cables and pulled a thread, but I looped it back into the interior side of the sweater, so you aren’t able to see it from the outside. That’s more of a dog thing than a sweater thing. So far, I’ve worn it while working from home, out on dates, and walking the neighborhood on chilly mornings. I imagine it travels well, too, but time will tell.
