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!

JAGGERY

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

L’envers

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

MONICA CORDERA

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

Artknit studios *

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

Skall studio

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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Lora Gene

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

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DAY 8: ETHICAL BASICS

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DAY 6: ETHICAL DRESSES/JUMPSUITS