A sweater worn by Princess Diana, which was previously lost, has been sold for nearly £1 million. The famous ‘black sheep’ jumper, made of red wool and featuring white sheep and one black animal, was auctioned at Sotheby’s Fashion Icons auction in New York and online, and sold for £885,000 ($1.1 million). This is ten times more than its estimated value of £40,227 to £64,363.
According to Sotheby’s, this is the highest amount ever paid for a sweater and the largest sale of an item belonging to the late Princess Diana. Cynthia Houlton, the global head of fashion and accessories at Sotheby’s, described the garment as an “exceptional garment” that reflects Princess Diana’s grace, charm, and fashion sense.
The sweater, which had been missing for many years, was first worn by Lady Diana Spencer at a polo match in 1981 when she was engaged to Prince Charles, now King Charles. It was created by the label Warm and Wonderful. After Princess Diana was seen wearing the sweater, the brand experienced a surge in demand and popularity.
The company behind the label expressed their surprise at seeing Princess Diana wearing their sweater on the front page of a Sunday newspaper. Her influence immediately led to increased sales and public awareness of their small label.
The original sweater was sent back to the label for repairs at the request of Buckingham Palace, and they provided a new one. The original sweater was lost and later discovered in an attic covered in dust. The design of the sweater was discontinued in 1994, but a new version was released in collaboration with Rowing Blazer in 2020. Emma Corrin, who portrayed Diana in ‘The Crown’ Season Four, wore a replica of the sweater.