3 Knitwear Brands Changing Fashion Design Around the Globe
From sweaters to scarves, everyone loves knitwear, but these three designers are reinventing the wheel.
Every closet has a knit crew neck or two, but today’s knitwear has leveled up, becoming a category that is as far-reaching and experimental as any other. Globally, designers are riding fashion’s changing waves to create long-lasting pieces that bring new life to these age-old fundamentals. Take a look at how three brands are advancing knitwear and taking the slower route in a world dominated by fast fashion.
Extreme Cashmere
After having been a part of the business of sweater-making for over 20 years, Saskia Dijkstra finally launched her own knitwear brand, Extreme Cashmere, in 2016. The Amsterdam-based label offers unisex and one-size garments, designed to work for a myriad of occasions.“ Sweaters are so versatile. They can be sexy, smart, or cool—the possibilities are endless,” says Dijkstra.“I love to make people feel good, and I don’t like to dress up. Our garments are made for every occasion, whether it’s an interview, a wedding, or an evening out.” The designer is inspired by the people who wear her brand, and the young team she works with. The sleek designs of Extreme Cashmere’s vests, skirts, and cardigans can join forces for a head-to-toe knit ensemble, but can just as easily fly solo.
Nong Rak
Having collaborated with Marc Jacobs for his brand Heaven in 2022, Nong Rak is a name to know in nontraditional knitwear. The brand’s colorful, alluring designs are about more than just clothing. “On the deepest level, they might be described as an invitation to be present,” say founders Home and Cherry Phuangfueang. “Very much a comment on being a living, feeling, dreaming person—[the garments] ask to be touched and experienced.” Mohair caps, arm warmers, and bolero jackets draw the eye in with their stripey colorways and furry finishes created using vintage yarns. “Vintage shows us that people didn’t move with the same kind of disposability and excessiveness seen today. As a team, we regularly step back and reassess what feels sensible to be making and putting out into the world, and how that might be received by future generations,” says the duo. Conceiving inspiration for the hand-spun pieces extends far beyond one source. The couple names their son, the whimsical dreams and thoughts that come during childhood, each other, and “the circular nature of life and how terrifyingly beautiful it is.”
A. Roege Hove
A far cry from the supple, often-amorphous garments typical of knitwear, pieces from A. Roege Hove boast sharp lines, structured shapes, and entirely see-through knits crafted from monofilament. “We always want to learn something new about knit in the process,” says founder Amalie Røge Hove. “That is our biggest motivation.” Instead of trying to make the fabric fit the design, Røge Hove works to make the design fit the fabric. Beginning her design process by first choosing a material and then knitting the fabric directly into its desired shape, the designer is able to execute her creations while also keeping waste to a minimum. “Sustainability is an undeniable part of our present and future, and it is thought into each part of our work process, from the making of the collections to the production and sourcing of materials,” says Røge Hove. With policies in place like “no cut-and-sew” and reworking deadstock knitwear, the brand creates high-quality designs that are allies to both fashion lovers and the planet.