British Made Knitwear

REVIVING A HERITAGE

Before launching GS, Genevieve spent two years travelling the UK, meeting British artisan knitters, exploring small family-run factories, and traditional yarn mills. She was captivated and completely fell in love with their passion for craftsmanship, their dedication to quality, and their knowledge of traditional British knitwear that had been passed down through generations.

However, hearing their incredible stories and discovering their journeys through the industry, rapidly shifting during the ’60s and ’70s – when manufacturing was relocated overseas for cheaper labour and manufacturing costs – was utterly heartbreaking. This shift had a devastating effect on the local communities and economies involved in the yarn trade. 

Younger generations no longer saw this highly skilled work as a desirable career path and eventually moved away, creating a generational gap in highly specific skill sets, such as conventional linking (constructing the garments stitch by stitch) and hand intarsia knitting.

Reviving Traditional British-Made Knitwear

Amidst the rapid decline of the UK knitwear industry during the 1980s, a sense of urgency loomed over re-capturing the lost traditional skills and expertise that once defined this cherished craft. As factories began shutting down and knowledge faded into obscurity, it seemed as though an entire legacy was on the brink of extinction as the next generation were unwilling to start a career in an industry that was fast disappearing.

Yet there remained a glimmer of hope! Some factories were able to pivot and adapt through the decades. Some adapted by taking on innovative machinery to account for the decline of staff able to link or finish the knitwear. This revolutionary technology heralded a new era for the industry, streamlining processes and reducing reliance on manual labour.

Others deliberately reduced their capacity whilst ensuring they had highly trained staff to carry out all the hand processes (knitting, linking, milling), producing small batches of high-quality knitwear. Crucially, not only do they create world-renowned products, they also continue the heritage skills of traditional knitwear, ensuring these time-honoured crafts live on and can be passed to the next generation of artisans.

In the face of adversity, these pioneers stood as beacons of resilience, proving that both technological innovation and traditional craft skills could work hand-in-hand to revive and sustain the British knitwear industry.

It was at this time in 2013 that Genevieve knew she wanted the Genevieve Sweeney brand to promote UK manufacturing, to relocate those processes in the British imagination away from overseas factories and back to the traditional mills adorning green fields across the UK. In doing so, Genevieve aspires to give artisans and small factories more work in the UK to fill capacity and inspire them to take on apprenticeships to continue the craft through the next generation.

By championing this richly historical British industry – from heritage craft to innovative technology and responsible yarns – Genevieve wants her brand to inspire and motivate a new generation of artisans, designers, craft makers, knitters, and technicians to pursue a career in UK manufacturing and contribute to the reviving art of traditional British made Knitwear.

A Tapestry of Skills, People, and Place

Genevieve Sweeney is today at the forefront of luxury British knitwear and the wider slow fashion movement, championing not only exquisite craftsmanship but also a deeper commitment to sustainability and ethical practices. But we would not be here without the support and skills of those amazing people, communities, and mills that are keeping the heritage of British knitwear alive.

From the skilled artisans who deftly manoeuvre their needles to create intricate patterns, to the communities whose rich heritage and traditions infuse every stitch with meaning, and the mills where innovation and tradition converge – they are the heart and soul of British knitwear.

From the Yorkshire yarn spinners, those colour artisans who create complex melanges and spin our unique lambswool marks, to the incredibly skilled hand intarsia knitters in the Borders, an art which takes years to learn as an apprentice, following a visual graph and changing the colours of the pattern stitch by stitch.

From the sock manufacturer in Derbyshire, who has patiently taught Genevieve every process of knitting a sock and embraces her love for colour, technical intarsia, and sparkle, to the knitters in Oxfordshire, London, and Scotland who create both our menswear and womenswear styles, as well as the button makers in the Cotswold.

Each person involved in every step of the manufacturing leaves their own mark: their passion and love for their skill shines through and entwines into a luxury piece of GS knitwear that will be worn and cherished for years to come. Thank you all for being a part of this journey.

Be Part of the Story

When you buy a piece of Genevieve Sweeney knitwear, you are also part of a wider story: you are not just supporting a small business, you are supporting a group of artisans, a local community, and an incredible industry.

Experience the craftsmanship behind the scenes – follow along on our Instagram to witness the artistry of artisans and manufacturers firsthand, as they bring our beautiful knitwear to life.

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