1970s–1980s | Pendleton | Virgin Wool Novelty American Football Scene Jumper | Made in USA | Black Multi – XL/XXL

Description:

Item: Exceptionally rare Pendleton novelty knit featuring a full American Football scene worked directly into the body of the jumper, with players, goal posts and pitch markings integrated into the design. Knitted in deep black virgin wool with multi-colour detailing in blue, brown, cream and white, using a dense, structured construction with ribbed collar, cuffs and hem. This is not a printed graphic but a fully knitted pictorial piece, produced in extremely small numbers and representing the most ambitious end of Pendleton’s design output.

Era: 1970s–1980s

Brand: Pendleton

Condition: Fair vintage condition. There are visible holes to the front and back, along with general wear consistent with age. The knit remains structurally stable overall, and the imagery is still strong and clearly readable. This piece is valued for its rarity, design and historical importance rather than condition perfection.

Provenance Note:
This is the kind of garment that almost never surfaces. Pendleton rarely produced fully pictorial jumpers of this complexity, and pieces like this were worn hard rather than preserved, which is why surviving examples are exceptionally scarce. The holes are not a failure of the garment, they are evidence of a life lived, and they place this firmly in archive territory rather than simple vintage knitwear. It sits closer to textile art and design history than fashion, representing a moment when functional outdoor clothing briefly crossed into narrative storytelling. Even with wear, its rarity and presence far outweigh condition, making it a true collector-level piece.

Measurements:

Size on garment: XL

Our modern sizing estimate:  XL/XXL                                                                                                       

Shoulder to shoulder: 27"

Pit to pit: 28"

Inner sleeve to cuff: 21"

Under collar to lower back: 27"

Condition Notes:

Please be aware. All our true vintage items come with a story, and we cannot guarantee any item will be totally free of marks / damage but anything we think of note will be mentioned. Furthermore, a lot of vintage items gain character because of wear and tear. Buying a true vintage item is not the same as buying new and is not to be confused with second-hand clothing.

We have also tried to accurately depict each garment using a photography setup with over 90% true to life accuracy. 

We do not take photos of inside the garment.

Sizing Notes:

Please take the time to measure up yourself and match to the measurements noted, the way you want the item to fit. We are only a micro business and unable to cover the costs of returns.

Buying true vintage clothing:

When buying true vintage clothing, you are buying a piece of clothing as an investment. We believe most of our true vintage items will hold or increase in value in years to come. We hope you will cherish your purchase.

Returns:

We are a micro business and sadly cannot cover the cost of returns.

We accept refunds within 14 days of the item arriving with you if you are in the UK and 30 days for Europe and International.

This means the returns must be back with us within those 14 days in the UK and within 30 days for Europe and International items.

Please see our returns policy page for full information.