Well you read the title and thought what?
Yes i Adam from East London England am the owner of over 100 Christmas Jumpers/ Sweaters. Different names such as Holiday Sweater Ugly Christmas Jumper or Sweater.
But how do it all start? how does one start out on this feat?
Today is Christmas Jumper day in the Uk, a day to wear your festive Jumper at work or about and donate a small £2 or so to charity. SO what better a day to write this blog. A lady at the till, says she loved my Sweater and the boldness. Saying it should be loud or whats the point?
When i tell people about my Christmas Jumpers, i usually get a why do you need that many ? or people think i am a hoarder of some kind. My answer is usually why not?
It all began when i was doing an market stall event at a local Xmas market, i thought i better get something festive to wear. I went to Primark with the grand selection of 2 Jumpers to choose from! i got one and wore it for the event, many commented on it, so i thought i could get some more.
The events were over and it was after Christmas, i spotted some in Primark in the sale so got them. Thought i would put them away for the next Christmas.
post Christmas is the time to get them on sale and into January when they go right down to £5,3,2. First of all to say i have worn every single one in the collection. I do not just collect them to look at, they have been worn for photos, for market events and at home and even on Christmas day!
I get them cheaper after xmas, and yes i can only wear one at once, but gives me the chance to wear one all through December if i wish, gives me the chance to do videos and wear one for xmas jumper day and out and about at events.
I then i came up with the idea of doing an advent calendar back in 2014 it fueled the growing of the collection. to get to 25 Jumpers. All primarily besides the original in the sales. I had enough and made my own virtual Advent calendar, and uploaded each day to my Facebook. After all was done i continued on the next year and the next year. I even won a prize in a competition by mentioning it, on how you countdown to Christmas. Searching Ebay and stores throughout January and online into February. I only ever buy Jumpers i like the design of and that will fit me. Some i have are fitting me fine, some a little snug.
and then i reached 100, which seems a mad amount ! for one person to own. I stopped doing the calendar but the Jumper count went up. In all honesty i have lost track but it is well close to 120. I did sift through them and let some go. I go for the more xmasy festive looking ones. It does get tricky when you have so many variations of Rudolf, Santa, Frosty and the Grinch to find new ones.
That doesn’t count the xmas cardies too or shirts! nothing like those numbers though.
I do get a lot of comments about my Jumpers when i wear them from people at the market or work or online. They do call them ugly sweaters in the states, having got a bit of a tacky reputation for being and looking tacky. I love all my Jumpers and the festive cheerful designs, some are very xmasy and close to the tacky mark. I do not have many crude or rude ones, although i do have a cheeky personality and make innuendo jokes often. I personally think i can carry them off and wear the Jumpers and have them not wear me.
Nowadays you can honestly get anything on a xmas Jumper. A huge change to the ones available nearly 10 years ago. Branded ones like KFC and Mcdonalds.
Back in 2021? i saw an article in the Metro newspaper about a lady and her quirky Shoe collection. I thought that is similar to me and my Jumpers. So i contacted them and they got back and agreed to do a story. It was an online article Link below
From that story i had a message from the Guardian newspaper, who were doing an article about the history of jumpers so i was included in an article. A couple other people with smaller collections were included. I also got an instagram message from The radio Heart who did a brief chat on the phone with Kelly Brook and Jason? less than about 5 minutes.
A bit later, after my original 75 Jumpers and counting blog post on here. This replaces it btw, i got a message from someone working on xmas fans tv show about people mad about christmas. This sadly fell through i guess. Another message from Ebay about people with collections and being featured on this campaign. That also just fizzled away.
SO if you need a Christmas Jumper fanatic here i am !
LOL some of the comments, that i must be single lol
Saying that my Husband does not share my enthusiasm for the Christmas Jumpers, or even Christmas really. The vast majority of people who see my Collection of Jumpers are fans of Christmas themselves. Occasional Humbugs or people thinking they are tacky. I get they can be warm to wear for an extended period of time, some are thick. Some can be itchy too.
THE JUMPER THAT STARTED IT ALL
Yes the 1st ever Jumper i brought and the only one at full price £8 i think
Back then it was only a choice of 2 Jumpers in Primark ( the one i went to) and really before the whole Jumper craze had taken off here in the Uk.
I dont think i ever get sick of seeing them, always look forward to seeing the new seasons ones. With the size of the collection, have to be selective with what ones i buy. They are mostly all flat packed under the bed. Would love to have a huge wardrobe to hang them all up!
I am already past the point of excess lol so providing it does not impede my space will continue.
The whole point is that it brings joy to me and others too. I am all too often the only one at work wearing an f flying the festive flag. Each to their own. I tend to get people thinking i am the manager a few times.
Whats Next?
Who knows whatever you make it!
Thanks for reading and leave you, with some photos from the archives.
Adampastryguy 