The Ritva Man Art Jumper

'Wear it. Frame it. Hang it on the wall. Take it down. Wear it again. Leave it to someone in your will. Sell it for more than you bought it. For it is a very special sweater - a wearable work of art.' (Nova, November 1971).

In 1971 Mike Ross asked four leading aritist to design motifs for a first limited jumper edition 'Artist collection' -  Elizabeth Frink, David Hockney, Patrick Hughes and Allen Jone. The outcome were beautiful coloured knitted jumper, either long sleeved or short sleeved. Back then, a jumper was 40 £ equates up to 700 £ nowadays.

Artist: Allen Jones

made from Paul McCartney's "Wings" Album

All of their jumpers had a very simple shape, so they could fit every figure there was. I love the use of lots of different colours you do not see often in this combination like in the first picture. Blue and purple toned stripes framed by black and yellow look great and give a high recognition value.

The blue Wing jumper combines cold colours like blue, grey and silver. It has a very sporty look, because of the short sleeves.

This is my favourite Art Sweater out of the collection, designed by David Hockney. His colour choice is very summery as the different blue tones reminds me of blue skies and the hot sun. But it is also due the 'illustration' of the holiday house with a palm in the centre of the jumper. He took his insperation for this garment from the warm Califorina, where he lived on and off over 30 years.

In 1973, Ian McShane wore The Ritva Man jumper in the movie 'The Last Of Sheila', which perfectly fitted in the scene of the port city he was wearing it.