The Autumn Knitwear
Shorter, colder days mean new knitwear, and we love this time of year. There are plenty of reasons to get outside in the cold, from lovely hikes to see the leaves changing to evenings with friends, heading to the pub and settling in beside the fire. You need knitwear to cover up, and finding beautiful pieces from sustainable brands can be harder than it should be, but we’ve got you. Plan ahead now, before the cold really hits.
We’ve curated a collection of everyday classics, statement knitwear for a special occasion or simply to stand out in the crowd and have everyone asking where it’s from, and smarter pieces for work that will keep you warm while still looking put together. Every piece comes from a brand dedicated to care in material sourcing, responsible manufacture and commitment to doing better for the environment.
The Classics
An easy everyday jumper in a lovely ecru, the Taran has a relaxed shape and loose knit structure that gives it a beautiful drape. Throw it over jeans for a walk, layer it under a coat when the temperature drops or simply keep it close by for the whole of autumn.
Finisterre has been a B Corp since 2018 and is one of those brands that has always taken its materials and manufacturing seriously. They use more sustainable materials, focus on traceable sourcing and design with longevity and circularity in mind. They are also a Real Living Wage employer and support ocean protection.
A great everyday jumper doesn’t need to be complicated. The Zucca has a softly textured knit and deep ribbed hem that sits neatly at the hips, giving an otherwise simple crew neck a little more shape.
Baukjen is a family run British brand with a lovely straightforward approach to fashion. Their clothes are made to be worn year after year, with responsibly sourced fabrics, European manufacturing and plastic free packaging. They are also a certified B Corp, and their buy less, buy later philosophy is one we can certainly get behind.
The kind of jumper that makes layering look effortless. The Rib Layering Jumper has a slouchy, textured knit with a deep ribbed hem that sits neatly at the hips, so you can wear it loose or adjust the shape to suit. It's an easy piece, but the texture and relaxed silhouette give it that elevated feel that works just as well with jeans as it does with something smarter.
BAM has built its brand around a belief in bamboo as a more sustainable alternative to conventional fibres. Bamboo needs around half the land of cotton to grow and can absorb significant amounts of carbon, and the brand is working towards zero waste to landfill, zero pollution and zero wasted water by 2030. BAM also has 86% traceability back to the forest and full traceability across its manufacturing factories, with suppliers required to hold SMETA or BSCI audits. We love seeing that level of transparency behind an everyday piece.
Statement Knitwear
Now for something a little more fun. The Tanit is a relaxed, cropped knit in a gorgeous royal blue, with a high neckline and zip fastening that gives it a sporty feel. It's the sort of jumper that can make an entire outfit. Add jeans and boots and you're done.
Thinking MU is one of our favourite brands for bringing colour and personality to more responsible fashion. The Barcelona brand uses GOTS certified organic cotton, GRS certified recycled fibres, OCS organic cotton, RWS certified wool, TENCEL and ECOVERO, with full traceability across its supply chain.
The jumper that gets the compliments. The Love is oversized and beautifully chunky, with a cable knit texture and a subtle LOVE across the front. It's made from soft RWS certified merino wool blended with recycled nylon, so it's wonderfully cosy without feeling like you're disappearing underneath it.
AKYN is another brand that takes responsibility beyond the fabric itself. They trace their manufacturers and raw material origins, use recyclable plastic free packaging and design their pieces to last. And if your jumper does need some attention down the line, they offer repairs.
If you are going to spend a little more on a jumper, we'd want it to be something special. The Eccleston certainly qualifies. Made using a mouliné yarn that combines a natural shade with a plant dyed shade, each one has its own slightly different texture and colour.
HERD is one of the most exciting British knitwear brands to know. Their wool comes from high welfare Bluefaced Leicester sheep on farms in the north west of England, which they source directly from farmers at a fair price. The yarn is made within 150 miles of those farms, with plant dyes and organic detergents used in the process. Even the buttons are made from nuts. Soil to skin, as they put it, and proudly made in Britain.
If you're going to wear a jumper, it might as well be an interesting one. The Petra has a classic crew neck and regular fit, but the bold colour blocking gives it plenty of personality. We particularly love this kind of knit for days when the rest of your outfit can be kept very simple.
Thinking MU puts a lot of thought into what goes into its clothes and where it comes from. Its use of certified organic and recycled fibres, certified wool and traceable sourcing makes the brand a particularly good place to look when you want sustainable fashion that doesn't feel worthy or predictable.
Office Knitwear
A good polo is one of those wardrobe pieces that can make getting dressed for work considerably easier. The Nora is knitted from fine merino wool, so it's lightweight, warm and wonderfully soft, with contrast tipping around the collar and cuffs that gives it a fresh preppy edge. Wear it with tailored trousers and loafers or with wide leg jeans for a more relaxed day.
Baukjen's approach is all about buying less and buying better. They're a certified B Corp, use responsibly sourced fabrics, manufacture in Europe and have moved to plastic free packaging. We like clothes that can work hard in your wardrobe, and this one certainly can.
A classic crew neck is hard to beat, particularly when it's made this beautifully. The Innes has a gently slouchy shape that falls beautifully on the body and is knitted from soft Scottish spun Geelong lambswool. It's an everyday jumper, just a very good one.
&Daughter keeps its supply chain close to home, working with local and specialist makers and using 90% sustainably certified materials. The wool is spun in Scotland on a nature reserve, and the brand's focus on traditional skills and specialist production is part of what makes its knitwear so special.
Argyle is having a moment, and we're very happy about it. The Eli gives the classic pattern a fresh feel in cream merino wool, with a subtle diamond design and a flattering V neck. Wear it over a crisp shirt and tailored trousers for work, then swap the trousers for denim when Friday evening arrives.
It's made in Europe from 100% merino wool spun in Italy and designed as the kind of investment piece you'll keep coming back to. That's very much the Baukjen way. Responsibly sourced fabrics, European manufacturing and clothes designed to last rather than be replaced every season.
The best autumn knitwear isn't necessarily the piece you fall in love with for five minutes in a changing room. It's the one you find yourself reaching for next autumn, and the autumn after that.
Choose the colour you can't stop thinking about. The shape that makes your favourite jeans feel new again. The beautifully made jumper you'll still be glad you bought when the first cold morning arrives next year.
Buy well. Wear often. Keep forever.