An Ethical & Sustainable Knitwear Directory
I have previous working relationships with some of the brands featured in this directory, but this is not an advertisement.
A couple of years ago, I was struggling to find slow, sustainable and ethical knitwear brands, so I put the first version of this directory together, featuring the brands that I found on my search. Several years later, I’ve built up an extensive database of brands that fit this bill, and this guide was due an update with all the cosy winter woollies I’ve discovered.
There’s nothing better than pulling on a cosy woolly jumper on a crisp autumn day or on a cool summer evening. I have a knitwear drawer filled with snuggly knits that I love pulling on to keep warm: light-weight jumpers that are perfect for summer, thick knits that keep me warm on the coldest of day, fuzzy fluffy sweaters that fill me with joy, and cosy cardigans for snuggling up in.
Here is my comprehensive edit of the best slow, sustainable and ethical knitwear brands, predominantly focusing on brands based in the U.K, Europe, North America and Canada. If you have recommendations for other knitwear brands, please leave a comment at the end of this blog post.
BABAA
I’m a little bit in love with Babaa’s knitwear. Yes, their knits are expensive, but these are jumpers and cardigans you’re going to get a lot of wear out of with plenty of timeless styles and colours to choose from. Their knits are made in a small family-run knitwear factory in Spain, handcrafted from 100% natural Spanish yarns and Italian organic wool. They also have a collection of cotton knits, for anyone who has a sensitivity to wool or lives in a milder climate. As they say themselves, these are simple, timeless knits that are designed to be cherished forever.
L’ENVERS
French brand L’Envers design their knits with a slow and sustainable manifesto. Their simple, timeless designs are made in small production runs from organic cotton and natural wool, and knitted in small family-run workshops in Spain. Their beautifully crafted knits focus on timeless designs that can be pulled on over any outfit. I particularly love their simple mohair and cosy merino wool jumpers that would be just as perfect for long winter’s walks as for snuggling up indoors. I also love how they steer clear of fashion fads and concentrate on creating timeless pieces that you’ll wear for many years to come.
THE KNOTTY ONES
I love the chunky textured knits designed by The Knotty Ones. Their knitwear provides more statement fashion-forward pieces that also manage to remain timeless. They’re effortlessly cool with a distinct cool-girl aesthetic. Founded by three friends who couldn’t find sustainable contemporary knitwear, the brand focuses on making beautiful knits that have minimum impact on the environment. One thing I really love about them is their commitment to employing craftswomen who are paid fairly, work in safe environments and enjoy what they do. They also operate a scheme where you can donate an extra €10 directly towards funding the dreams of the women who make the knits.
Image: The Knotty Ones
GOOD NIGHT, DAY
Canadian-based brand, Good Night, Day is run independently by Tara-Lynn, who hand-knits every piece on a made-to-order scheme of limited runs. If you have our eye on one of Tara-Lynn’s garments, you need to follow her on Instagram and keep your eyes peeled for her opening her shop to orders. This way of working means that there’s absolutely no waste involved, as each knit is made specifically for her customers. Every single piece is beautifully designed, creating fashion-forward knitwear that you’ll fall in love with. If you’re a keen knitter, Tara-Lynn also sells knitting patterns.
Image: Good Day Night
OUBAS
Oubas are a British brand, based in Ulverston, in the Lake District. Owner, Kate Stalker, has created a heritage brand that focuses on crafting timeless designs that will be passed down through generations and treasured throughout a lifetime. Some of Kate’s designs are made in her Lake District studio, while others are produced in small batch mills across Scotland and England, with every single piece made in the U.K. The Oubas collection is only small, with each design available in a choice of natural colours.
OUND
Ound is the project of designer Paula Delgado, who spent time in both Argentina and Scotland learning about wool production, weaving, knitting and botanical dyeing. Previously working for fast fashion brands, Paula launched Ound as a thoughtful brand that doesn’t harm the environment and follows slow and sustainable practices. All of her garments are true one of a kinds, and are all handmade in limited editions to reduce waste. Her designs are simple and timeless, yet impeccably designed. All of Ound’s knitwear is made in Uruguay, a country which is known for it’s Merino herds and craftmanship, working with female artisans in Santa Lucia. Each piece of knitwear takes three to five days to complete, and is made to last a lifetime.
Image: Ound
FLOCA
Floca is a small knitwear brand based in Madrid, who offer just three simple garments in a choice of five natural or vibrant colours. All of their garments are made from 100% merino wool of Spanish origin, handmade in a family-run workshop close to the brand’s base. Floca have an emphasis of living your life as gently as possible, reducing your footprint on the earth. This is translated through their small collection, natural materials and each decision they make as a company. Their knits are designed to last a lifetime and to be worn every day.
JAGGERY
Jaggery is a small London-based brand that focuses on simple and timeless knitwear that is made to last a lifetime. All their garments are hand-knitted in artisan workshops in India, where founder Theresa grew up. Jaggery’s aim is to help create a livelihood for local villages while being respectful to both their makers and the environment. I love how Theresa’s designs offer classic, timeless silhouettes with a choice of either natural or fun, vibrant colours.
Image: Jaggery
OLANN
I’ve been dreaming of owning a piece of knitwear by this Canadian brand for several years now. I love the timeless, cosy styles of their snuggly jumpers and woolly hats. Each piece is made to order by Emily, who is based on the west coast of Canada but grew up in Ireland and studied knitwear design at Nottingham Trent University. Prior to moving to Canada and starting her own brand, Emily cut her teeth interning at People Tree. Inspired by the wild landscape that she calls home, her designs focus on environmentally conscious materials and the artistry of hand-knitting.
Image: Olann
JAMES STREET
Another brand whose knitwear I have been lusting after for some time, James Street focuses on effortlessly designed knits, created with purpose and respect for the environment. Each season, the brand offers a capsule collection of garments, focusing on knitwear that is all ethically made in the US. Each of their pieces are knit to shape with minimal yarn waste, with small production runs further eliminating wastage. Their designs include timeless slouchy pullovers and zip-up knits, crafted from a blend of wool and bio-based, non-petrochemical nylon.
Image: James Street
BARE KNITWEAR
Offering a small collection of timeless, everyday knitwear in a classic colour palette, Canadian-based brand, Bare Knitwear focuses on preserving traditional crafts and supporting artisan communities. The brand collaborates with small producers in Peru to create alpaca, wool and pima cotton collections of staples garments that are designed to last a lifetime. Alongside cosy cardigans and stylish jumpers, beanie hats, slippers and socks complete the collection. My favourite garment is their alpaca-blend ribbed jacket, which looks like the warmest, cosiest and softest piece of clothing I’ve ever seen.
Image: Bare Knitwear
ROWS
ROWS is a small knitwear brand founded by hand-knitting enthusiast, Alice. With a vision of creating dynamic knitwear utilising high-quality natural materials and expert craftmanship, the brand offers two options: made-to-order garments or knitting patterns. ROWS signature pieces are their bug hoods; hoods/balaclavas/snoods crafted from a blend of alpaca, cotton and wool. I own one, and can vouch for how warm and snuggly it is! Choose to buy a ready made hood in a selection of colours Alice has available, or buy a pattern to make your own (or one of her other designs) with your own choice of wool.
Image: ROWS
THE SIMPLE FOLK
One of my absolute favourite slow brands, The Simple Folk have a small womenswear offering alongside their main children’s collection. Capsule collections are released just a handful of times a year, offering timeless pieces that are designed to be loved for a lifetime, including a core collection of jumpers, cardigans and knitted trousers in natural colours. All their garments are versatile, timeless, made from non-toxic fabrics and dyes, and created in an environmentally and socially conscious way. As members of the Change for Women Collective, they support a selection of organisations that focus on furthering children’s education and wellbeing.
RILEY STUDIO
Based in the UK, Riley Studio was created to make conscious consumerism the norm. They work with a network of innovative mills and manufacturers around the world to build a core collection of gender-neutral wardrobe staples with a positive impact. Beautifully designed garments (with a strong focus on timeless knitwear) are crafted from organic or recycled materials, using new technologies to create garments from waste products. Their production runs are small to reduce waste, and there is a strong focus on designing clothing to last a lifetime, not a season.
Image: Riley Studio
MICAELA GREG
Based in California, Micaela Greg is a knitwear-focused collection designed by sisters, Marie and Karen Potesta. Warm, cosy and incredibly stylish knits make up the core of their collection, with a focus on creating timeless garments that are made to last and can be worn again, season after season. Their knitwear is produced in the USA and Peru, using Italian yarns and alpaca yarns grown by local farmers in Peru. The brand are consciously aware at every step of the manufacturing process, preserving the planet’s resources by keeping production small, using natural fibres, utilising deadstock fabric and using GOTS-certified dyeing techniques. Alongside their covetable knitwear is a beautiful small collection of stylish staple pieces.
Image: Micaela Greg
HENDRIK LOU
Hendrik Lou is a small Canadian brand offering a capsule collection of beautifully designed and expertly handcrafted knitwear. The small collection includes jumpers and cardigans that are designed to be heirloom pieces that the owners will pass down to their children, alongside cowls, scarves and hats that are perfect for keeping the wearer warm and snuggly. All of their garments are made from natural and sustainable materials, including Fair-Trade alpaca and organic cotton.
Image: Henrik Lou
MOSS + CABLE
Moss + Cable is a relatively new knitwear brand, based on the North West coast of Ireland, offering a small but beautifully designed collection of gender-neutral knits. Founded by Siobhan McKenna in 2020, the brand focuses on taking inspiration from the knitwear her mother made, combining timeless designs with a contemporary feel. Siobhan carefully studied the classic Aran knits that have been worn and produced in the West of Ireland for centuries, taking the name of the brand from two of the key stitches: the Moss and the Cable. Each knit is made in a small, family-owned factory close to where Siobhan is based, with the yarn sourced just one mile away to minimise the carbon footprint of each piece.
Image: Moss + Cable
WOL HIDE
American brand Wol Hide don’t just focus on knitwear, but their jumpers, hats and scarves make up a large part of their easy-to-wear collection. Ran out of Philadelphia by owner and designer, Leah D’Ambrosio, the brand use organic, natural and deadstock materials to create a thoughtful collection. Three considerations are made when making each garment: how it will affect the environment, how it will interact with the wearer, and how to make it a piece of clothing that you will want to keep in your wardrobe forever. Their sweaters are made in a small family-run factory in Peru, with other garments made in a local factory who offer fair jobs to the community.
Image: Wol Hide
& DAUGHTER
‘Useful things, beautifully made’ is the ethos of British brand & Daughter, who offer a slow and sustainable knitwear collection. Each piece is created by expert makers in the UK and Ireland, utilising natural yarns sourced locally. Classic designs and natural colours combine to create a stylish collection of contemporary knitwear that has a timeless appeal (there is also a small selection of fun and colourful knits, if that’s more your thing). Provenance, sustainability, craft and beauty are all of the upmost importance when it comes to adding new designs to the collection.
Image: & Daughter
THE KNITTER
If you’re looking for super-cool designs that are completely different to anything else available, take a peek at The Knitter. Nicole’s knits are loud and proud, flaunting clashing colour combinations and striking patterns. Designed and made in New Zealand and Peru, she focuses on supporting small communities, ethical labour and sustainable practices. Her ‘happy knits’ are handmade using traditional methods, knitted in the home rather than in large factories. Organic yarns are gathered from local farms, with mohair yarn from New Zealand and alpaca and sheep wool from Peru coloured using low-impact dyes.
Image: The Knitter
NAVY GREY
British brand, Navy Grey make everyday classic knits that are designed to be worn over and over again. Rachel, the founder of the brand, was inspired by a jumper belonging to her mother that she couldn’t find anything like. She created Navy Grey to replicate the same jumper in different designs and colours, always focusing on sustainable practices. Merino wool is ethically sourced from New Zealand, dyed and spun in Italy and the jumpers are manufactured in a small factory in Portugal. Limited production runs cut down on wastage and ensure an acute attention to detail. Every single stage of the production is designed with sustainability in mind - from their Devon-based solar paneled distribution hub to the recycled tissue paper used to package their parcels.
Image: Navy Grey
COUNTING CLOUDS
If you’re looking for delicate everyday knits that you can layer as the seasons change, Spanish brand Counting Clouds are perfect. Their ethereal knits value timeless design, sustainable practices and artisan practices. If you’re not after a ‘fashion’ knit and are looking for something more classic, this is the brand for you. Committed to working with small local factories, founder Elena uses high quality natural yarns and small production runs to ensure sustainable practices.
Image: Counting Clouds
NYGÅRDSANNA
I discovered Nygårdsanna on a trip to Sweden several years ago - a rail of their beautiful linen garments were hanging in a shop I visited. Based in Sweden, this work-wear inspired brand draws inspiration from nature. Each garment is designed to be loved for years to come, and they’re proud that their customers pass on their clothes to future generations. Although there are two seasonal collections presented each year, these are designed with a slow fashion manifesto rather than adhering to fast fashion trends. Their knitwear collection is only small, but offers a selection of jumpers, knitted vests, shawls and accessories that you will love for years to come.
Image: Nygårdsanna
TRADLANDS
Tradlands is a North American brand that focuses on creating comfortable, classic clothing for women. Founder Sadie was inspired to create the brand when she often found herself gravitating towards menswear to avoid trend-led clothing. Not only do Tradlands make clothes that are designed to last longer and be worn more than fast-fashion alternatives, they also have a commitment to using consciously sourced fabrics and ethical factories. Their knitwear collection is full of practical and stylish jumpers that won’t go out of style.
Image: Tradlands
Images that are not credited are my own.