But to a 46-year-old woman who sold sweaters at one of the Yaohan department stores, which are now closed, that strength is hard to see.

Here Chanel sold hats, jackets, sweaters, and the marinière, the sailor blouse.

Ski stores sell expensive Austrian sweaters with snowflake designs.

It also has a large contingent of otavaleños (people from Otavalo) selling sweaters and weavings on its north side.

Deutsche Bank has already spotted deep discounts, a sign that retailers are struggling to sell sweaters.

Leaving, I walked down to the corner where a man was selling sweaters for $1 each.

It seemed that almost everyone else was competing to sell familiar-looking leather coats and chunky knit sweaters.

But they've already done $50,000 that morning, selling sweaters to women who get bored at home and say, 'Let's order some stuff up.'

They already know they can make money selling sweaters and cappuccino machines by mail.

Imagine a department store selling sweaters for $20, plus 18 percent Federal tax plus 10 percent state and local tax.