Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US black) knitwear, esp. garments expensively imported from Italy.

1972		D. Claerbaut Black Jargon in White America 70: knits n. 1. shirts. [...] 2. sweaters.
1975		J. Wambaugh Choirboys (1976) 92: ‘Officer!’ yelled a young black man in yellow knits.