Vintage vicuna sweater with odd little underarm patches

[SayItWithVintage]

Hi~

This may be a dumb question but I have to ask... I have this nice vicuna sweater with tiny patches under each arm but I see no issues. I have never seen this on a sweater and wondered why it would be this way.

Thank you!

 

[poppysvintageclothing]

I have seen that before but I don't know why either!

 

[Hattysattic]

I just sold a ballantyne intarsia and it had the same with no issues - I'm assuming this is the stress point and it's a way of preventing holes occurring rather than a repair job later!

 

[vivavintageclothing]

I can tell you that my constantly worn and laundered, vintage cashmere sweaters do tend to get holes in those areas (along with the elbows, for the long-sleeved versions)--so it makes sense to me to reinforce them like that!

 

[SayItWithVintage]

Hi everyone!

Thank you for taking the time to reply: ) I was a bit embarrassed to ask the question of whether or not you think the sweater could have been sold with these tiny patches in place. After reading the post from Hattysattic, maybe the patches are original. Mine is also a Ballantyne.

 

[The Vintage Vendeuse]

I always thought they were to prevent skin irritation at a place that's very lumpy due to several seams coming together.

On a bit of a tangent: is vicuna legal to sell?

 

[SayItWithVintage]

I'm seeing vicuna items for sale on different websites and prices seem to be all over the map. Last night I saw a suit on the "fancy site." Wow!

 

[retro ruth]

On a bit of a tangent: is vicuna legal to sell?

Quite possibly not. It's an endangered species and is governed by the various endangered species laws, in the same way as exotic furs are.

 

[retro ruth]

Certain managed populations of vicuna are now legal to sell but only subject to controls and certifications (these populations were moved CITES Appendix I to Appendix II, which allows trade under strict controls). However this type of legal sale doesn't apply to older pieces as they won't have any traceability.

 

[SayItWithVintage]

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Thank you!