Kitcatt Nohr Digitas

As an insufferably proud East Midlander, I take special pleasure in the revival of long-established fashion brands from that part of the world. And it’s even more delightful when they manage a come-back with this amount of style and aplomb.

John Smedley, Pantherella, Sunspel. They’ve all staged come-backs in the last few years. (Arguably, Smedley never really went away.) However, while others soared, the Leicester knitwear brand Wolsey merely meandered, with dad-at-the-disco styling and so-so quality.

All that changes this autumn. Wolsey has launched a special range in celebration of the centenary of Scott’s expedition to the Antarctic, for which they provided the original warm woollens. (Check it out at www.wolsey.com/expedition.)

Having hankered for ages after a shawl-collar cardigan similar to the one sported by Steve McQueen in that famous William Claxton shoot, I was delighted to find just such a garment taking pride of place in their collection, at a perfectly reasonable price.

But I wasn’t expecting the item to arrive in such style. Hand-wrapped in authentically-aged string and brown paper, with a final inspection slip bearing the signature of a real live person, I felt as if I should be taking ship for South Georgia in the morning.

I would give my right arm to work for this brand. But if this is a sign of things to come from Leicester’s finest, I’m not sure they need anyone’s help. Thank you, Wolsey, and well done, m’ducks!