The Legend of the Lands End Sweater

Lyon Street, San Francisco, 1990: I liked the picture of a camel-colored cashmere sweater. It seemed reasonably-priced in the Lands End catalog, and cashmere does feel so wonderful, so I sent off, and eagerly awaited the mail.

Soon the package arrived. It looked as pictured, and felt soft as expected. But there was a surprise.

Near the bottom hem, on the inside, they’d affixed a couple of replacement buttons, in case I ever pulled one off. And there was a tiny cardboard with a bit of the camel-colored thread wound around it, to fasten that button with matching thread.

I suppose the value of those buttons and thread was perhaps three cents to the Lands End company. But I’d got something more than expected.

I thought, Those Lands End people are great!

Oh happy day. I had a new sweater. It was beautiful. It was cashmere, fancy. It felt soft.

And besides, I’d got free thread. I was lucky!