Women

Breton Sweaters

Unpredictable weather is no match for our slim fit sweaters and wool sweater jackets. A Breton sweater is the warm base layer you need to brave the elements and stay up on fashion trends. Stay cute and cozy in a warm French striped sweater topped with weather-proof raincoat or sweater jacket. Irish fisherman cable knit sweaters have paved the way for comfortable fashion since the 18th century. Pair our Breton sweaters with other Breton Classics and accessories to perfect your nautical outfits.
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Gender
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28 products
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final sale

TALMONT

Chunky Cotton Sweater
1 Color(s)
$239$120
best-seller

BREGANCON

Breton Striped Sweater with Jacquard Elbow Patch for Women
1 Color(s)
$305
best-seller

BREGANCON

Breton Sweater with Jacquard Elbow Patch for Women
1 Color(s)
$305
new

MERVILLE

Sweater with a Striped Jacquard Heart | 100% Wool
1 Color(s)
$289
new

KERLOUAN

Colorful Striped Sweater with Drop-Shoulders| 100% Cotton
1 Color(s)
$245
final sale

OTTAWA

Trucker Collar Cardigan in Wool Blend and Lurex
1 Color(s)
$339$170
final sale

ANDORRE

Short Jacket With Puffed Cuffs | 100% Wool
1 Color(s)
$459$230
new

PAULA

Quarter Zip Trucker Collar Sweatshirt | 100% Cotton Fleece
2 Color(s)
$195
new

PAULA

Quarter Zip Trucker Collar Sweatshirt | 100% Cotton Fleece
2 Color(s)
$195
final sale

ESPELETTE

Mulitcolor Wool Sweater for Women
1 Color(s)
$289$145
final sale

QUEBEC

Short Structured Knit Sweater With Puff Sleeves
1 Color(s)
$239$120
final sale

CAPVERN

Bicolor Breton Sweater With Snowflake Pattern | 100% Wool
1 Color(s)
$339$170
final sale

ATYLA

Wool Sweater With Puffed Cuffs by Romain Brifault
1 Color(s)
$299$150
new

PLOUARZEL

Full-Zip Wool and Cotton Cardigan with Striped Details
1 Color(s)
$389
new

GUIDEL

Yachting Jacquard Sweater with Drawstrings | 100% Cotton
1 Color(s)
$199
final sale

HASPARREN

Color-block Sweater in Mohair Wool Blend
2 Color(s)
$375$188
new

ERDEVEN

Full-Zip Boiled Wool Cardigan
1 Color(s)
$495
final sale

MODENE

Thin Turtleneck Sweater | Wool Jersey
1 Color(s)
$255$128

Plain or striped, in cotton knit or pure new wool, Saint James sweaters for women result from traditional know-how passed down from generation to generation. Faithful to their maritime heritage while being resolutely modern, they are made with great care according to strict quality standards.

The birth of the Saint James fisherman sweater for women

Saint James' Breton sweaters for women are so durable because they originally served a utilitarian function. In 1889, Léon Legallais, mayor of the town of Saint-James in La Manche, started making the first sailor sweaters within his spinning mill. The market: working clothes for fishermen.

The so-called Newfoundlanders, those sailors who went out for long months every year to fish for cod off the coast of Canada, needed warm clothing capable of protecting them from freezing temperatures and keeping them warm, providing shelter from rain and spray, without hindering their movements when maneuvering aboard boats.

This is how the sailor sweater came into being. It was at the time called "chandail" (sweater in English) due to Norman and Breton fishermen who, when they were not going fishing in the North Atlantic, crossed the Channel to sell garlic in the south of England.

As they announced their presence, shouting "Marchand d'ail" (Garlic merchant in English), The British heard" ... chand'ail " (sweater in English), which gave rise to the word sweater. At the time, the fisherman sweater was knitted from the wool of salt meadows sheep, raised in the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel.

Over the years and decades, the Breton sweater has lost its purely utilitarian function to serve fashion without renouncing its nautical heritage and without losing its ability to protect against cold and humidity.

It no longer dresses only sailors, but all the women and men committed to wearing quality clothing that is as elegant as it is cold-weather resistant.

How Saint James women's Breton sweaters are made


Between the start and the end of the tailoring process, a Saint James women's sweater passes through 18 pairs of expert hands.

There are the hands of the master knitters, who set up and supervise the knitting looms, inspect the work and report any faults to the raccoutrage (mending) workshop. Their expertise allows them to know precisely which adjustments to make depending on the piece and the raw material used.

There are also the hands of the seamstresses, who assemble the different knitted pieces, called panels, sometimes using very complex sewing techniques. About a hundred of them, mostly women, work every day in the brand's Normandy atelier.

They make the hems at the end of the sleeves and the bottom of Breton sweaters, assemble the panels with very thin seams, and fix the collars of women's sweaters to the necklines using a rare technique, called remaillage (remeshing), which is a specificity of the Saint James brand.

Finally, after knitting and before assembly, women's Breton sweaters arrive in the hands of raccoutreuses (mending experts), these craftswomen who detect the smallest flaw and polish each garment as a unique piece. Their know-how is exclusively taught in the Saint James atelier, during in-house training lasting almost two years.

It takes two weeks to make a Saint James ladies sailor sweater.

Saint James women's Breton sweaters: between authenticity and creativity

Saint James fisherman sweaters for women are the result of ancient and rare know-how. If they have been able to adapt to each era without losing any authenticity, it is also thanks to the creativity of the styling team.

Twice a year, new collections are created: a Spring / Summer collection and an Autumn / Winter collection. The Saint James designers research natural materials and possible blends as well as yarns, assembly methods, new knitting techniques, and current trends in colors and cuts.

They make sketches and then develop a technical file for each new style of women's sweaters. This file contains a technical drawing, the plans of the panels to be knitted and assembled, the colors and materials used, all the instructions for making, and the various measurements by size.

A prototype of this new style of women's sweaters is then made and worn in-house, within the Saint James team, to check its fit before going into production.

Easy and comfortable to wear while being of high quality, Saint James women's sweaters are part of a casual-chic spirit, the perfect combination of elegance and relaxation. The brand's nautical style is exported internationally. From Japan to the United States, Saint James sweaters are both an emblem of French fashion and the art of living.

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