Fred Leighton for Westwood Knitting Mills Cardigan?

[Tracy E.]

I think I stumbled across a very special piece!
It is a super luxurious-feeling men's 50s/60s alpaca cardigan with 2 labels.
The labels read:
"Leighton's; New York, Miami Beach"
-and-
"100% imported alpaca, Westwood Knitting Mills"
Is this "Leighton's" as in Fred Leighton?
And does anyone know anything about Westwood Knitting Mills?
I noticed that there are some Rudi Gernreich / Westwood Knitting Mills pieces at the MET so I'm guessing they worked with fabulous designers. A little help would be greatly appreciated
Thank you!
Tracy

 

[joules]

I doubt if there is any connection to the jewelry selling company.

Looks like a nice alpaca sweater though. Be sure to do the freeze/thaw/freeze, if you've not done so already.

 

[lkranieri]

Leighton's in NY opened in 1919 as Leighton's Haberdashers and Clothiers. It was run for three generations by the Schlesinger family, of whom William Schlesinger was the son of the founder and father of the last president of the company. It closed around 1985.

 

[Tracy E.]

I doubt if there is any connection to the jewelry selling company.

Looks like a nice alpaca sweater though. Be sure to do the freeze/thaw/freeze, if you've not done so already.

Thanks Joules, I understand that Fred Leighton was in the clothing business, mostly imported mexican goods, in the 60s or so before he predominantly became a jewelery enthusiast...so I thought, just maybe...
But Ikranieri has cleared that up a bit for me
Thanks for your reply!

 

[Tracy E.]

Leighton's in NY opened in 1919 as Leighton's Haberdashers and Clothiers. It was run for three generations by the Schlesinger family, of whom William Schlesinger was the son of the founder and father of the last president of the company. It closed around 1985.

Thanks very much, Ikranieri!

 

[joules]

Thank you, Tracy. I'd not known that.

Only just saw this in the history section, of the main site:

"In the mid 1970's, Fred Leighton opened his first boutique in New York's Greenwich Village. In the early days, he sold unique crafts and ethnic jewels from around the world. He became widely admired for his memorable designs and eclectic taste. By the time Fred Leighton opened the flagship salon on Madison Avenue in 1984,...."