DAY 7: ETHICAL KNITWEAR
It’s day 7 of the series. We are almost at the end! Are you discovering new brands you didn’t know about? Today we are looking at ethical and sustainable knitwear. Again, this has been a favourite because I absolutely LOVE a knit and always welcome autumn with open arms with a chance to layer up with the maximum amount of knitted items.
Enjoy!
Who: Women and children
What: Knitwear
Where: Based in London, made in Auroville, South India
Favourite items: Nora turtleneck, Carla Trousers, Chico box top
Price: ££
Everything is made in founder Theresa’s hometown, Auroville, South India, meaning a close connection with artisans.
Fair wage paid
Seasonless items
Use of deadstock fabric
High focus on respectful and slow production
All cotton is 100% natural organic Indian cotton and is sourced responsibly and dyed with azo-free dyes (doesn’t contain harmful chemicals).
Buttons made from recycled shells
Waste-free packaging- every order is wrapped in a 100% organic cotton furoshiki style wrap which can be reused
Who: Women
What: Knitwear
Where: Based and made in Spain
Favourite pieces: Lucie wool sweater, GALA Hand Knitted Sweater, Gaby wool cardigan
Price: £££
Seasonless items
All items are knitted in local, small family workshops in Spain, home of founder Julie, and her family.
Natural materials selected exclusively from French and Spanish mills
Their clothing labels reveal who the items were made by and on their website you can learn about each artisan by name and each factory.
1% of benefits is given to the Clean Clothes Campaign.
High emphasis on the protection of artisans
Pay a fair wage beyond industry standards that increases each year
Who: Women
What: Knitwear and outerwear
Where: Spain
Favourite pieces: Natural knit pants, Natural Chunky Cardigan, Nougat maxi pants
Price: £££
Mónica Cordera was started in 2008 by two sisters
They work exclusively with small family factories with whom they have built a relationship
Timeless limited edition garments meaning no excess of stock
Use a range of recycled materials.
100% made in Spain
Fair wage paid
Who: Women and Men
What: Clothing, Accessories and Homewear
Where: Italy
Favourite pieces: Upcycled cashmere sweater, Upcycled cashmere hoodie
Price: ££
Only use natural and up-cycled fibres that are rapidly renewable and have the potential for circularity
Only produce in small quantities- a lot of the items are made to order
Work closely with artisans in Italy to reduce distances and CO2 emissions.
Vet and partner with top manufacturers who commit to exceptional craftsmanship, ethical practices and the finest materials.
You can meet the artisans via their website
Fair wage paid
Somskat *
Who: Women
What: Timeless essentials
Where: Based in Germany made in Poland
Favourite pieces: Pullover ASH, T-shirt OLIVE
Price: ££
Fair working conditions and pay above minimum wage.
Materials sourced consciously in Europe from certified partners
Non-seasonal capsule pieces
A transparency index is given for their products so you can see their roots and pricing transparency too so you can see exactly what you’re paying for.
Uses recycled materials
Mostly GOTS certified
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Babaa *
Who: Women and kids
What: Knitwear
Where: Based and made in Spain
Favourite items: Cardigan no23 mist, Knitted dress no15 oak
Price: £££
Items made in a family-run factory in Barcelona, and the founders know the artisans on a personal level
Creators of their own yarn meaning they can control the production process from the sheep to the final stitch
Only use natural materials
Fair wage paid
Who: Women
What: Womenswear
Where: Based and made in Denmark
Favourite pieces: Martha big scarf- sand, Esther knit- sand
Price: £££
Prioritize to use and develop only natural and sustainable materials.
Established by two sisters in 2013
Do not use man-made fibres unless, it is re-cycled, leftover or discarded materials that would otherwise become landfill.
All materials are produced and dyed within the international standards of OEKOTEX, REACH AND GOTS
Establish close and long-lasting partnerships with suppliers and only work with people that share their values for a more sustainable world.
Encourage and support suppliers to offer working conditions that are even higher standards than those requested by the national laws in force.
Source and support local (Danish) production and suppliers as close to markets as possible.
Offer free repairs
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Who: Women
What: Fuss-free clothing
Where: Based in the UK, produced in Bulgaria
Favourites: The new bohemian in grey, Lora handknitted cardigan, Madison soft wool blend sweater
Price: ££
Certified Bcorp
Pay at least 10% above the regular wage
Visit their factories at least 5 times a year
Make around 60% of garments in house and the rest in local responsible factories
Only natural fibre, mainly silk and cotton, but also linen, hemp and bamboo. We also use innovative man-made fibres, like Tencel, known as the sustainable brand of viscose
Fiercely female-focused
Other brands to take a look at: OUBAS, FREE NATIVES, Navy Grey, Letricoteur, Woven store, Naz