It is difficult to think of a British wardrobe without knitwear holding it together. From jumpers pulled on without thought, to scarves, hats and cardigans that bridge the space between seasons, knitwear sits at the intersection of comfort and utility whilst remaining one of the few clothing categories that has managed to evolve without losing its versatility.
In Britain, knitting has long been a working craft before it was ever a fashion statement. Wool was abundant, winters were long and the need for durable clothing was constant. Knitting is thought to have reached Britain in the late medieval period, arriving via continental Europe between the 14th and 15th centuries. The earliest surviving examples are finely made stockings and caps that were often produced in wool or silk and worn by the wealthy.
By the 17th century, knitting had shifted from luxury to livelihood. Across Scotland, northern England and the Channel Islands, families produced knitted goods at home to supplement their income whilst coastal communities developed their own functional knitwear.
The invention of the knitting frame at the end of the 16th century began to change the scale of production and by the 18th and 19th centuries, areas of the Midlands had become centres of machine knitting. As factory-made garments became cheaper and more accessible, hand knitting retreated into tradition, surviving most strongly in rural and island communities.
While mass production pushed knitting to the margins of domestic life, it never disappeared. Late 20th-century craft revivals and a renewed interest in sustainability and slow fashion have brought British knitwear back into focus.
In this guide, we reveal a selection of the best knitwear brands in the UK.
Waring Brooke
British knitwear designer Samantha Brooke has always approached fashion with one eye on longevity. As founder of Waring Brooke, her work centres on reducing waste and producing knitwear that makes sense in the long term, with womenswear, menswear and personalised accessories all developed with that same vision.
The brand was established in 2017 by Brooke and her business partner, Megan Turner, brought together by a shared respect for British manufacturing, rural heritage and design. From the outset, the intention was clear: to create knitwear made locally, in small runs, that reflects the elegance of life outdoors rather than the churn of seasonal fashion.
The brand invested in a STOLL industrial knitting machine, allowing design and production to happen in-house. This gave full control over quality and quantities, removing the pressure to overproduce and ensuring every piece could genuinely be made in Britain. Today, Waring Brooke is known for its timeless knitwear pieces, using ethically sourced and biodegradable materials, and has attracted attention from titles such as Vogue.
Navygrey
Navygrey began with a single, well-worn jumper. Founder Rachel Spedding was inspired by a navy knit her mother had owned for 25 years that was still soft and still wearable.
From that starting point, Navygrey has grown into a considered collection rather than a sprawling one. Each style is subtly adjusted in cut, weight and finish, allowing wearers to find their version of the “perfect” jumper. The name itself reflects that mindset, as navy and grey are dependable colours that sit at the core of many wardrobes.
British wool sits at the heart of the brand and there is an emphasis on local sourcing, producing a collection exclusively made from wool grown on farms across the UK. These pieces are knitted using traceable, natural fibres, most commonly lambswool, which is chosen for its softness and resilience.
&Daughter
For those seeking knitwear that feels considered, &Daughter is a strong place to start. The brand works on a deliberately small scale, taking a slow approach to making clothes that are meant to be worn for years and not seasons. Everything is produced by specialist makers in the UK and Ireland, with a strong emphasis on quality and longevity.
&Daughter uses wool and cashmere spun by Todd & Duncan at Loch Leven in Scotland. Garments are made using traditional methods, with pieces knitted individually, then linked together and finished by hand. The brand also maintains a commitment to a tightly controlled supply chain, working with independent mills and makers to ensure that standards are consistent and excess is avoided. Around 90 per cent of the yarns used are sustainably certified through the Responsible Wool Standard or RSPCA Approved schemes.
Brodie Cashmere
Brodie began in Yorkshire, built at a kitchen table by mother-and-daughter duo Anne Marie Holdsworth and Jessica Talpade. From the outset, the focus was deliberate: cashmere and nothing else. Every piece the brand produces is made from fine cashmere, with colour and personality placed firmly at the centre.
Brodie works with nomadic goat herders in Mongolia, selecting yarns certified by the Sustainable Fibre Alliance. The fibres are gathered by traditional hand-combing, a method that protects both the quality of the cashmere and the welfare of the animals. Today, Brodie is supported by a team largely made up of women, with a strong emphasis on supporting workers across its supply chain. Design-wise, Brodie resists understatement. Jumpers, cardigans, loungewear and accessories appear in bold colour combinations and textured knits, designed to soften and improve with age.
John Smedley
John Smedley occupies a category of its own in British fashion. Founded in Derbyshire in the late 18th century, it is widely regarded as the oldest continuously operating manufacturing company in the world. More than two centuries on, the business remains rooted in the same landscape, still working from a mill first built in 1784.
With over 235 years of uninterrupted production and two Royal Warrants, the company has marked major milestones through an extensive archive project holding more than 13,000 knitted garments. The company remains family-owned, with the managing director representing the eighth generation at the helm. Around 300 skilled workers are employed across Derbyshire and South Yorkshire to produce luxury knitwear entirely in the UK.
HERD
Founded in 2020 by Ruth Alice Rands, HERD starts with sheep, land and fibre. The brand exists to revive England’s sheep-farming and wool-making traditions, reconnecting knitwear with the landscapes that once defined British textiles.
HERD works exclusively with 100 per cent Bluefaced Leicester wool, sourced directly from high-welfare farms in Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumbria. The fleece is spun entirely in Yorkshire to keep every stage local and traceable.
As much as knitting once evolved from handicraft to industry without losing its purpose, modern knitwear is adapting to modern-day concerns around sustainability and longevity while retaining its essential role in the British wardrobe. In doing so, it continues to hold everything together, just as it always has.
