10 British Knitwear Brands To Know Now
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2 months ago
Britain's close-knit wool warriors
When it comes to achieving optimum cosiness levels, the best solution is a chunky knit – and the best places to find them are with these beautiful British knitwear brands.
The Country & Town House Responsible Buyers’ Guide
The Best British Knitwear Brands To Know Now
House of Bruar
One of Scotland’s leading retailers, the House of Bruar is perhaps known best for its country fashion and impressive collection of tweeds and cashmere. The brand’s been in action since 1995, and can now be found today with its own ginormous store in rural Perthshire, Scotland. It’s the place to go for countryside garms, sporting accessories and, of course, comfy knits.
HADES
Fancy your wool with an edge? Then you’ll want HADES, the independent knitwear label that specialises in colourful, alternative styles – in other words, the brand making knits cool again. Founded in 2016, the brand’s jumpers and scarves are handcrafted in Hawick, its cardigans are knitted in Spain and its skirts are constructed in England. HADES draws a lot of its inspiration from counter-culture, and you can often find the brad teaming up with British musicians and bands for its collections.
Bee&Sons
Those after something on the cosy end of the scale will love circular knitwear label Bee&Sons, which is known for its fluffy knits. Crafted by Italian yarn-makers in Prato, each knit is made from recycled yarn (avoiding synthetic fabrics) and made in small batches – with items available to pre-order with a wait time of two weeks.
John Smedley
With 235 years under its belt (as well as two Royal Warrants), you can rest assured that knits from John Smedley will display nothing but fine British craftsmanship. The brand, which today specialises in contemporary knitwear staples, is synonymous with British luxury.
Johnstons of Elgin
Another heritage label for your radar, Johnstons of Elgin has over 200 years of experience dealing with cashmere and dine woollens. The brand has worked with natural, renewable, biodegradable fibres since 1797, and in 2015 it helped set up the Sustainable Fibre Alliance, a non-profit international organisation working with the extended Cashmere supply chain, from herders to retailers. As for the fashion itself, think traditional cable and Fair Isle knits interwoven with contemporary silhouettes and broad colour palettes.
Chinti & Parker
A family affair, British knitwear brand Chinti & Parker was founded by cousins Anna Singh and Rachael Wood, who wanted to bring fun, high-quality knits and everyday essentials to women’s wardrobes. Designs are refined and sophisticated, as well as packed with lots of wit and colour (think slogan knits and quirky illustrations).
Sheep Inc
Specialising in Merino wool fashion, Sheep Inc hand-picks its wool from regenerative farms in New Zealand and keeps a close eye on every part of its supply chain – much to the brand’s benefit. In 2023, it released the world’s first naturally negative carbon footprint t-shirt; you can find out more about it and Sheep Inc here.
HERD
Heritage knitwear label HERD has been on a mission to revive sheep farming traditions in England since its founding in 2020. Keeping things close, the brand sources its wool, spins and knits it in the Northern Uplands of Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumbria, using 100 percent Bluefaced Leicester breed sheep fleece.
JW Anderson
While you might be more familiar with JW Anderson’s quirky runway shows (let’s not forget the pigeon clutch bag just yet), the London-based brand is also famous for its gorgeous knitwear. Bringing loose silhouettes, bold colours and fresh patterns to the traditional craft, the brand is known for catching the eye of Millennial and Gen Z audiences – perhaps most famously Harry Styles, whose JW Anderson cardigan now rests in the V&A.
Brodie Cashmere
Luxury cashmere label Brodie embodies everything good in the Quiet Luxury trend; from super soft knits and minimalist designs to neutral hues and excellent craftsmanship. The brand works with three factories, one in Mongolia and two in China, with vertically integrated cashmere specialists – meaning that all processing, dyeing, spinning and knitting of each garment is done in-house. Learn more about the brand in our Q&A here.
How To Care For Your Knitwear At Home
Washing Wool In The Washing Machine
Below, we get a breakdown of how to wash our knits correctly from Lorna Meikle, Ladieswear Buyer at The House of Bruar:
- Before washing, turn your items inside out. You can also put any garments into a mesh laundry bag before putting them in the machine for extra protection.
- Fill the detergent compartment with the recommended amount of detergent.
- Set your machine to a wool cycle – or, if unavailable, a cool temperature of no higher than 30°C. The label on your garment will also give you some washing instructions. (If you’re not using a dedicated wool cycle, make sue to turn off the spin setting.) You can remove any residual detergent with an extra rinse.
Detergent
You can’t use any old detergent when it comes to looking after detergent. ‘It’s best to use a specially formulated wool detergent as they are designed to gently, but effectively, clean the delicate fibres of woollen clothing,’ says Lorna. ‘Whether you’re hand washing or using a machine, a pH-neutral and mild detergent is an excellent choice for refreshing and removing stains. Never use regular detergents, “bio” detergents containing enzymes, or any cleaning products that contain bleach, as they can be too harsh. It’s also best to avoid using a fabric softener when washing wool.’
How To Dry Wool
First things first: never chuck your knits in the dryer. High temperatures and rapid rotations can damage and stretch out the material beyond repair if you’re not careful. Here’s what Lorna recommended:
- Once your wool is washed, make sure to squeeze out any excess water.
- Lay the garment flat on top of a towel (top tip: a white towel prevents any dye from coloured cloth bleeding into your knitwear) – if you don’t have a towel to hand, you can use a horizontal mesh drying rack.
- Reshape the garment into its natural shape, making sure to remove any creases or folds.
- Leave it to air dry away from heat sources and direct sunlight.
Cashmere
‘Due to its delicate nature, the best method of cleaning your cashmere garment is gently by hand,’ says Lorna. ‘As tempting as it may be, even the hand-wash setting on your washing machine can be too vigorous for the fine cashmere fibres.’
Featured image: HERD
