There’s something about the holiday season that makes people go a little insane when it comes to sweaters. Fashion don’ts become hot trends. And shoppers shell out hefty amounts for something they may wear just once or twice.
A London artist is testing the limits of that seasonal sweater disorder, creating what he calls the “world’s most expensive” sweater. And with an asking price of $39,654 (£30,000), it’s hard to argue that claim.
Aidan Liban says he spent 3,000 hours making the sweater by hand. The sweater’s website (yes, it has its own site) says the jumper is made of Italian silk, has more than 150 diamonds, almost 2,000 Swarovski crystals, and 24-carat gold thread, shipped from France.
All of that was combined to create a sweater with a giant reindeer standing in a snowy field wearing a Santa hat.
Liban says he spent $9,244 (£7,000)—his entire savings—on the sweater materials and has vowed to donate some of the sale price, assuming he finds a buyer, to the U.K.’s National Health Service. He started working on it last year during COVID-19 lockdowns, but finished only last month.
“Aidan has never had a Christmas jumper before, so when he decided to create one, he had to create one that would be magnificent, eye-catching, and breathtaking,” the website reads. “It would be the most fabulous one ever.”
What, you might ask yourself, was the previous most expensive Christmas sweater? That dubious honor went to retailer Tipsy Elves, which created a memorably tacky offering with over 24,000 Swarovski crystals. The asking price for that sweater, which featured Santa riding a unicorn in outer space, was $30,000.
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