The Best of Cleveland 2012 issue is online and on the streets now. Read it, love it. In addition to the usual categories, there were some offbeat staff picks. We'll be posting them here over the next few days.
Best Place to Buy a Sweater From the 1960s: Ohio Knitting Mills
Steven Tatar unearthed a piece of Cleveland history when he stumbled upon a treasure trove of leftover sweaters and clothing in the abandoned Ohio Knitting Mill plant on Chester Avenue years ago. Inside, there were never-worn pieces from 1947-1974, stowed away for decades in the darkened mill, which for 76 years had been one of the largest players in the Cleveland garment industry. When they say they don’t make ’em like they used to, this is exactly what they’re talking about. That quality of knitting, craftsmanship, and styles have largely disappeared during four decades of mostly regrettable fashion, but they’re still at your fingertips thanks to Tatar’s operation. He opened a pop-up shop briefly in Ohio City over the winter, but if you missed that, fret not: You can still grab a timeless item from the collection — a portion of the fine threads are always available for purchase online, and there are semi-annual trunk shows at his office near East 55th.
216-272-6375, ohioknittingmills.com
