Responsible Knitwear Production

Responsible Knitwear Production

with our industry experts

The knitwear industry is very complex and varied, especially when you take into account the difficulties that can be faced creating sustainable and ethical knitwear products. In this Masterclass, we shine a light on some of the challenges faced when producing responsible knitwear, and the various ways in which you can overcome this.

We've structured this Masterclass first to outline the basic principles of knitwear, including what can be defined as knitwear, and how it is made. We then look at a glossary of knitwear, including a range of knitwear-specific terms that will help you make sense of the various aspects of this sector. The masterclass then includes a sustainable knitwear design panel discussion, moving onto how technology and knitwear work together from our conversation with Hall Watts and Kirsty Emery of revolutionary fashion technology business Unmade.

In this Masterclass you will learn:


  • Introduction to knitwear with Charlotte Cameron from Charlotte Cameron Knitwear

    with Charlotte Cameron
    Summary

    Trained in knitwear and knitted textile design, Charlotte Cameron works with brands to design and develop products from concept to retail. Alongside her consultancy, Charlotte Cameron Knitwear, Charlotte is also Knitwear Editor for the online platform, Knitting Industry Creative, and a visiting lecturer. She has a breadth of experience with mid to high-end brands, from those with established knitwear collections, through to start-ups. As a knitwear consultant, her key focus is to create beautiful and ethical knitwear which is commercially successful and is designed and made to last and be cherished.

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  • Knit Glossary

    with Charlie Bradley Ross
    Summary

    A downloadable pack featuring the key terms commonly used in the knitwear industry, and their various meanings and definitions.

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  • Custom Hand-Knitting Perfectly Fitting Clothing

    with Ruby Lee
    Summary

    Have you ever wanted to knit the perfect made to measure jumper, but didn’t know where to start? Well, Ruby Lee and Alice Sleight have the solution with their fledgeling business, “Made and Worn” an app that helps users to knit a product that they design themselves, to their perfect fit.

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  • Changing the Knitwear Industry: In Conversation with Hall Watts

    with Hall Watts
    Summary


    Hall Watts is CEO and Co-Founder of Unmade, the revolutionary, award-winning fashion technology business. Launched in 2013, Unmade enable customizable design through industrial manufacturing. They give fashion brands the power to customise their products and to never have to deal with unsold stock again.

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  • Using Knitwear Technology to Reduce Wastage

    with Kirsty Emery
    Summary

    Kirsty Emery is one of the co-founders of the revolutionary, award-winning fashion technology business, Unmade. Launched in 2013, Unmade was born out of frustration at the fashion industry’s stagnant approach to mass-consumption. Today, they create bespoke, personalised knitwear, on-demand, on an industrial scale. With an ever-growing team and research lab based at Somerset House, they are leaders in sustainable fashion technology.

    "The fashion business is 1.4 trillion dollar industry. 10% of all the clothes made every year don't get sold and go straight to landfill - which is about 100 billion dollars of clothes."

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Interviews


Technical Tutorials


Past Events


Where to Buy Ethical and Sustainable Yarns

One of the biggest struggles in the knitwear industry is sourcing sustainable yarns. Here are a few of our favourite yarn suppliers:

Renee and Burt Co

Yarn Yarn Yarns

Flora Fibres Artisan Vegan Yarns

Mojopanda

Malabrigo Yarn

Wool and the Gang

We are Knitters

The Natural Fibre Company

Blacker Yarns

Uist Wool

Additional Links

Charlotte Cameron Knitwear: https://charlottecameronknitwear.wordpress.com/about/

Katie Jones Knit: http://www.katiejonesknit.co.uk/

Ally Bee Knitwear: https://ally-bee.com/

Knitworks London: http://knitworkslondon.com/

CROP: https://www.wearecrop.com/

KOKO: https://www.koco.global/

B-Corps: https://bcorporation.net/

The Natural Fibre Company Website: https://www.thenaturalfibre.co.uk/

Search more breeds of sheep on the Black Yarn website: Meet the Animals

Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook, by Deborah Robson and Carol Ekarius

British Wool Board: http://www.britishwool.org.uk/

British Sheep Breeds: http://www.britishwool.org.uk/british-sheep-breeds.php

Pure Wool: A Knitter's Guide to Using Single-breed Yarns, by Sue Blacker

Knitwear Glossary: https://mc.offsetwarehouse.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2018/11/Knitwear-Glossary.pdf

Fibres & Microns: https://mc.offsetwarehouse.com/2017/10/01/fibres-microns-properties/

Ted's 10: http://www.tedresearch.net/about/

Unmade: https://www.unmade.com/

Tech Stars: https://www.techstars.com/

V&A's 9-month artist in residence: https://www.vam.ac.uk/blog/section/artists-residence-va

Health & Safety Guidelines: http://www.eurobike-show.com/od-wAssets/daten/rahmenprogramm/pdf/Environment-Health-and-Safety-guidelines.pdf

BlueSign: https://www.bluesign.com/industry/infocenter/downloads/downloadFile/2/ind-bssl/BSSL%20v7.1.pdf


Follow on Masterclassses:

Understanding Responsible Wool Production

Manufacturing Responsible Accessories And Leathergoods

Extending The Life of Textiles and Clothing



Additional Reading