The John Ashpool Collection

The designer.

John Ashpool designed knitwear in 1970s London and had his pieces knit in Italy. His work is held in two of the world’s great costume collections: the V&A in London keeps a 1974 cashmere jumper designed by Ashpool, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York holds a sweater from around 1972 attributed to him.

The set.

A floor-sweeping duster, a matching skirt, and a long wrap belt, knit in Italy from wool and cashmere. The duster’s yoke is worked in an intarsia panel of soft lilac florals framed by bands of sky blue, sand, and rose, with full balloon sleeves gathered into patterned cuffs and a deep band of diamond motifs at the hem that echoes across the skirt.

Why you almost never see this.

Single Ashpool sweaters surface now and then. A complete matching three-piece set, kept together for half a century, almost never does.

This set is part of my personal collection. If you’re interested in acquiring it, please get in touch.