Unable to find a jumper she loved as much as an old, navy knit borrowed from her mum, Rachel Carvell-Spedding created her own business. 'I focused on the most timeless shape; if you had one jumper in your wardrobe, it had to be this one,' explains the founder of British knitwear brand Navygrey. Over five years later, and with nearly a decade's research into materials and supply chains, she has elevated the humble knit. 'Finding a great British wool was paramount. The fact that so much of our wool ended up being sourced from Aberdeenshire (where my mother's family is from) was a bonus.'
As someone who grew up before fast fashion, I like the idea of companies that specialise in one thing and do it really well. 'The reason we have so much love and respect for British tailoring and British knitwear is because it is really good,' adds Rachel. Being more mindful about where we spend our money has become a priority over the last few years. 'When you buy made in Britain, you are supporting small businesses that pay their supply chain a decent wage, have good working conditions and minimise on waste,' points out Frankie Davies, founder of Charl Knitwear, another British brand giving traditional jumpers a modern twist. 'And you will have a more exclusive product that has been made in small batches.' In this instance, inspired by the gansey jumpers worn by Norfolk fisherman in the late 19th century.
It is worth remembering the craftsmanship and time involved in creating well-made clothing – and that a lot of the skills used and manufacturing communities are being lost. This is an issue Patrick Grant addresses with his brand Community Clothing, a unique business model designed to create quality affordable clothes in the UK. In his book Less, Patrick says, 'I spent much of my early childhood in a hand-knitted jumper. Thanks to the climate and our abundance of sheep, Britain has always been good at knitting.' The Great British Sewing Bee judge also emphasises how he prefers quality not quantity, and an everyday wardrobe consisting o...
As someone who grew up before fast fashion, I like the idea of companies that specialise in one thing and do it really well. 'The reason we have so much love and respect for British tailoring and British knitwear is because it is really good,' adds Rachel. Being more mindful about where we spend our money has become a priority over the last few years. 'When you buy made in Britain, you are supporting small businesses that pay their supply chain a decent wage, have good working conditions and minimise on waste,' points out Frankie Davies, founder of Charl Knitwear, another British brand giving traditional jumpers a modern twist. 'And you will have a more exclusive product that has been made in small batches.' In this instance, inspired by the gansey jumpers worn by Norfolk fisherman in the late 19th century.
It is worth remembering the craftsmanship and time involved in creating well-made clothing – and that a lot of the skills used and manufacturing communities are being lost. This is an issue Patrick Grant addresses with his brand Community Clothing, a unique business model designed to create quality affordable clothes in the UK. In his book Less, Patrick says, 'I spent much of my early childhood in a hand-knitted jumper. Thanks to the climate and our abundance of sheep, Britain has always been good at knitting.' The Great British Sewing Bee judge also emphasises how he prefers quality not quantity, and an everyday wardrobe consisting o...
You're reading a preview of
Woman & Home Uk (Digital) - 1 Issue, April 2025