Knitwear is one of those sectors in which made in Italy, in terms of know-how, rises a notch above other countries. We have an important history of knitwear factories behind us , which unfortunately risked being lost due to the continuous relocation of production and the increasingly massive presence of fast fashion. In this post I propose 6 niche brands that make ethical and sustainable garments, produced (really) in Italy. Sustainable knitwear brand: what it means
As in all things, talking about sustainability also with regard to knitwear is a delicate and very multifaceted topic. How do you understand if a garment is sustainable and ethical
I try to explain it to you in a simple way, giving you some practical information.Attention to “made in”
Made in Italy is a good indication, but often it is not enough. Indeed, not always behind the “Made in Italy” label hides a truly 100% Italian production, in which workers are respected and paid fairly. How to orient yourself
Better to get supplies from small brands , which know their entire supply chain and which do not have to bear significant advertising budgets, shops and ancillary costs, which ultimately affect the final cost of the product, without increasing its quality. Attention to the composition
It is essential: always prefer garments that are made up of at least 70/75% natural fibers,then wool, cashmere, alpaca, mohair… and with a percentage of no more than 25/30% in synthetic fibers, preferably polyamide or nylon, avoiding polyester and acrylic. Because a small percentage of synthetic fibers are fine
Because, for certain processes, they serve to make the fabric more solid. Pay attention to the materials used
If the garments are made with recycled materialsand the ideal: in this way we are introducing as much new raw material as possible into the environment and we are not affecting the environmental exploitation due to the plains used for grazing animals. Another thing: try to see if there is a mulesing free certification, especially if the wool is imported (as in most cases). Mulesing is a cruel practice reserved for animals in some areas of the world. Sustainable knitwear brands: here are 6 to consider
These are small realities, if you compare them to the big giants of the fashion system and their beauty is just that: they have an eye on all their production, they know how to tell you exactly how everything is done and you interface not with offices in charge of answering you, but with people who care about their product, their company and therefore you too! Eticlo
Brand Made in Italy based in Bologna that takes care of its entire supply chain from start to finish. The garments have particular cuts, they are not the classic “sweaters”. Flo – Let the flowers flow
Flo’s girls are based in Piedmont and personally choose the skeins of wool with which to make their sweaters, all created with special processes, some very thin and very warm.Gaia Segattini Knotwear
Gaia is a real institution in the field of sustainability. Passionate about sustainable fashion (I have been a fan of her for a long time), she has her own line of knitwear made in the Marche, often with regenerated material. With each replenishment, pieces are always very few, precisely to avoid producing and placing useless garments on the market. It goes without saying that they are sold out immediately. Rifo
The guys from Rifo are from Prato and recover wool, denim and cashmere to regenerate them and produce new garments with existing fibers (this is what we mean by circular economy). Among other things, their entire supply chain is literally zero kilometer, in the sense that all their suppliers are in the Prato area, very close to each other. Lize Natural Clothing
Carlotta’s online shop, specialized in entirely ethical and sustainable products, is very strong in knitwear. The garments are made with a careful choice of fibers and suppliers, all strictly controlled. Via Elisa
Via Elisa is a very Italian brand, from Lucca, which produces garments for both women and children (I have often chosen it for my daughters). The attention to detail is evident and the compositions are excellent: thin yarns that keep you very warm.
credits @giorgiophoto
