To kick things off, they got started with Knitwear.

my-wardrobe identify four key themes that will be of most importance in men’s knitwear this season.

• CHUNKY - Ditch the fine gauges and ramp up the yarn count this winter. At its most extreme, knit savvy men will get positively Alpine in mountainous textures or North Sea ready in thick cables. And keep your chin up, as necklines are rewritten with shawls wraps and thick roll necks.
• FAIRISLE - Though it is the most remote inhabited island in the UK, with a population of just 70 people, you’ll be reading a lot about Fairisle in the coming months. It gets its name from the three mile long North Sea outcrop where the technique of knitting with multi coloured strands of wool originated.
• DETAILED - With knitwear in many ways replacing the shirt as the core item for men this season, designers have gone to town finding new and innovative ways to add detail. And by detail we mean pretty much anything that enlivens your V-necks, crew necks, cardies and more. Elongated plackets, leather buttons, braided sections, cables, multi pockets – and, of course, massive sequin skulls – are among the tactics found. Be as adventurous or reserved as you want.
• COLOUR - Colour, it can be daunting, but there’s really nothing to fear. Keep it unfussy with simple, clean lines and soft handles for an autumn rewrite of the summer colour blocks, and inject a sunny punch into the greyest of days this season. After all, it’s no different to that faithful coloured shirt you’ve had on all summer.

YMC NAVY AND WHITE NORWEGIAN TEXTURED KNIT

LEVI'S VINTAGE RED 1930S REPLICA FAIRISLE V KNIT

POLO RALPH LAUREN NAVY POLO KNIT

JOHN SMEDLEY BLACKCURRANT HUNTER MERINO CREW KNIT

Hats off to my-wardrobe.com, for proving that there is a lot more to running an ecommerce business to “just being a shop”, they have clearly put a lot of effort into creating great, content for their customers.

Let’s let the pictures do the talking on this one ….

NN07 Billy Cardigan

NN07 New Toscana

NN07 Bilbao Cardigan

NN07 Kiefer Cardigan

NN07 Clothing

NN07 clothes are aimed at people who enjoy life regardless of age or background, where comfort and quality is more important than trends.

NN07 is a brand without any boundaries. We create tomorrow’s originals, and are dedicated to a perfect fit, unique hand work well and lots of detail. We will never be mainstream because we have chosen to go our own way. We love challenges and strong personalities. We are different. We know we are. We will never be mainstream.

The whole idea for the brand was born in a shop in Tokyo where the store owners made T-shirts of cotton made from their own cultivation.

- “The store owners were dedicated to the max and that is exactly how we want it. The entire NN07 concept is based on feeling and it’s a quality we want to be known for. We simply want to make favorite clothes”, says Victor Lindh, one of the two founders of NN07.

- “We love and want to pay tribute to dedicated people who are equally interested and focused on their products as we are by ours. We think the details are important and have spent much time on them. It can range from the edges of the keys to the amount of tissue to achieve the correct rustle. We want people who buy NN07 clothing to still be discovering new details on their shirt even after they have washed it three times”, says Victor.

The inspiration can be found from all over the world and they like to mix. They do not want to be placed in a particular country which is why they chose the name NN, as in No Nationality. Nor do they want to go to a specific class of customers, but to enjoy life in general.

Missoni

A type of Italian knitwear is Missoni. It is known for its multitude of patterns such as stripes, geometrics, and abstract florals, in a kaleidoscope of colours. They also use a range of different fabrics such as wool, cotton, linen, rayon and silk.

Italian Alpaca

Alpaca knitwear is a fine fleece originated from alpaca reared naturally stress free on the slopes of Mount Sirino. The knitwear is made in Italy by artisans with skills passed down through generations. Italian alpaca is entirely natural and eco-friendly as no chemicals or synthetic substances are used in the production process.

Brands

Italian knitwear brand Aimo Richly’s collection for men and women, designed by Alberto Incanuti. Aimo Richly’s designs include a knitted kimono and utilise natural yarns such as baby alpaca, angora, mohair, extra-fine merino coupled with super-thick and extra fine stitched details. This is in a palette of greys, peacock blue and mauve. Aliz Opere Tessili enabled knitting patterns to be turned into fur using new yarns and stitching techniques after extensive research was carried out.

Denny is cashmere Italian Knitwear production founded in 1952. It has operated under its present name since 1962. MAGLIFICIO DENNY was a small family firm, the entire processing cycle was conducted internally, and this was how it was launched on to the Italian market. One of the strong points of this company is the utmost attention to the quality of the product. Denny has adhered to this same tradition of excellence for over thirty years. They offer ranges for men, women and children, as well as accessories including gloves, hats and scarves, this is based on a profound knowledge of its customers’
demands and lifestyles.

Places to Buy

The Denny collection is created to satisfy the high-end market, studied and conceived on solid basis, and observant of the modern quality and aesthetics. Passion and affection for knitting is the main motivation behind the work of Denny. The staff joins professionalism, technical knowledge, and handcraft creativeness to create these beautiful pieces of knitwear.

For the luxury designs of Denny view their collection on the website http://www.denny.it/

Artigiano brings you all the luxury, simplicity and elegant tailoring of Italian fashion. Artigiano has been designing Italian fashion for 15 years. With outstanding quality fabrics they make beautifully cut clothing. For knitwear by Artigiano visit their website http://www.artigiano.co.uk/clothing/knitwear/icat/sclokni/

History

Technique
The argyle pattern is made of diamonds that are in a diagonal checkerboard arrangement. Most of the time argyle layouts contain layers of overlapping motifs; adding a sense of three-dimensionality, movement, and texture. As a knitting pattern, argyle is generally done using the intarsia technique. Argyle patterns are also occasionally woven and became fashionable in England after the First World War.

Facts
Through the adoption by Stuart Stockdale in collections produced by luxury clothing manufacturer, Pringle of Scotland, it has seen a sudden new popularity in past few years.
In the Winter Olympics 2010 the Norwegian’s men’s curling team and the “Argyle Armada” or the Garmin-Slipstream cycling team as they are formerly known, use bright contemporary interpretations of the argyle pattern for the sporting clothing.

Places to buy
http://www.next.co.uk/
Next is a UK based company offering exciting, beautifully designed, excellent quality fashion and accessories for men, women and children to cater for all needs. Next sell argyle jumpers in many different colours and trends, golf ware and also socks. Next retail have a chain of over 500 stores in the UK and Eire and more than 180 internationally.

www.Pringlescotland.com
Pringle of Scotland was founded in 1815 at the birthplace of the Scottish knitwear industry. In the 19th and 20th century, Pringle of Scotland became globally known as one of the first luxury knitwear manufacturers in the world. The iconic brand is an increasingly popular brand in Scottish knitwear catering for all ages and a wide variety of designs and is Scotland’s most famous knitwear brand. You can purchase argyle jumpers, cardigans and socks in different shades and styles.

Cashmere costs a lot of money due to its luxurious quality and the process in making it. Manufacturers are wise to the marketing ploy and will use the word cashmere on the label of their knitwear to add 30% onto the price, always read a knitwear label to be sure of what you are getting. Knowing your fabrics is the best way for you to save money when it comes to cons like this

Buying knitwear online automatically saves you money than buying in store, so why not shop direct for massive discounts at leading internet stores through the UK and save money. Below are a few places selling good quality knitwear at cheap prices and also with frequent sales and promotions to help you save money on your knitwear.

Different Styles:

The Fair Isle technique, this is a technique used to create elaborate colourful patterns, traditionally a Fair Isle pattern consists of a palette of about five colours, with two colours being used per row and working them around and limiting the length of a run of any particular colour.

The argyle pattern, this pattern is used for kilts and plaids and also socks worn by Scottish Highlanders. The pattern originated in the 17th century and is derived from the tartan of Clan Campbell, of Argyll in western Scotland. Argyll patterns are sometimes woven, the pattern is generally accomplished using the intarsia technique and has become more popular in the last few years.

Facts:

Scottish knitting required a tool known as the Liaghra; it was most popular in the north west of Scotland and Argyll. The Liaghra was regionally known as a variety of names, in English it was known as a thread winder. The Liaghra consisted of two sticks crossed together in the centre, set on a swivel pin in a block of wood called the Stoc. The Stoc is then fixed in each of the four extremities of the sticks, and round this there would be a hank of thread placed, which is unravelled and made into a ball, as the operator spins the instrument round.

Places to buy:

www.pringlescotland.com

Pringle of Scotland was founded in 1815 at the birthplace of the Scottish knitwear industry. In the 19th and 20th century, Pringle of Scotland became globally known as one of the first luxury knitwear manufacturers in the world. The iconic brand is an increasingly popular brand in Scottish knitwear catering for all ages and a wide variety of designs, it is Scotland’s most famous knitwear brand.

www.lyle&scott.com

Lyle and Scott is a fast popular growing Scottish clothing brand, known for their outstanding service and mainly their high quality brand. Lyle and Scott pride themselves on having 135 years of history into the design and manufacturing of authentic Scottish knitwear. Their traditional audience is amongst golfers, but more recently the brand has become increasingly popular with a younger generation of people.

Fair Isle knitting is a traditional technique used to create multiple colour patterns. The style of knitting is named after a small island in the north of Scotland, which forms part of Shetland Islands. The style first became in trend in 1921 when the Prince of Wales at that era wore Fair Isle tank tops in public, establishing popularity for the knitting technique. A traditional fair isle pattern consist of around five colours, two colours per row, are worked in the round, and limit the length of a run of any particular colour.
Fair Isle knitting is often referred to as colour work stitches knitted alternately in various colours, with the unused colours being stranded across the back of the work.

Technique

A basic two-colour Fair Isle is just simply the basic knit stitch technique, there are two available active colours of yarn at each knit stitch, one is to be drawn through to make the knit stitch, and the other is simply held behind the piece and carried as a loose strand of yarn behind the stitch just made.
The simplest Fair Isle pattern technique is as follows; cast on any number of stitches using circular or double pointed needles. If when you started you used an even amount of numbers, the pattern will end up with a vertically striped tube of fabric, if you used an odd number of stitches the pattern will be a diagonal grid that appears to mix the two colours.
A modern variety of Fair Isle is now woven fabric; this allows a wide variety of patterns with greater blocks of colours. This technique is to hold the unused strand in slightly different positions relative to the needles and thereby woven into the fabric, making it invisible from the front, but trapped closely against the back of the piece.

Examples

History

Knitting is a technique that produces fabric from a strand of yarn or thread. It originates from the basic need of humans for clothing for protection against the elements. Knitting has become more of a general hobby over the years than being a necessary skill. Knitting does not require large equipment unlike weaving, which makes it a valuable technique for nomadic and non-agrarian people.

It is believed that socks were the first ever article made with a knitted appearance, using techniques similar to knitting. The earliest known examples of knitting have been dated between the 11^th and 14^th centuries and cover a range of items found in Egypt, these included complex colourful wool fragments and indigo, white and blue cotton stockings

Different types of material and fabrics

Cashmere- originates from the cashmere goats, it is characterised by its soft, fine fibres which are easily spun into yarns and light to heavy-weight fabrics, they are also highly adaptable. The original natural colourings of cashmere wool are various shades of brown, grey and white. Cashmere is so precious and has an increased value due to the difficulties and long period in which it takes gathering and checking the quality of the fibre.

Lambswool – Is soft, slippery, resilient and smooth textured wool that has superior spinning properties, it is taken from sheep before they reach the age of 7 months. Lambswool is used in fine grade woolen fabrics and comes in a variety of qualities depending on where the lamb originates from. Lambswool is a long-lasting, soft fibre; it is mostly used for heavier and outer garments in winter collections.

Silk Cotton – Is a smooth fabric with a soft texture that is not slippery; this is unlike many synthetic fibres. A good property of silk is that it is one of the strongest natural fibres although it does lose up to 20% of its strength when wet. It has an elasticity that is moderate to poor: Once it has been stretched then it remains stretched as it has poor elasticity. If exposed to too much sunlight then it may become week. Due to silk being a poor conductor of electricity it does have the susceptibility to static cling. Unwashed silk can shrink up to 8%, this is due to the relaxation of the fibres. The cost of a square foot of silk is around £18.

Alpaca fibre – Is partially hollow; it is lighter and has better insulating properties than sheep’s wool. Unlike Wool Alpaca does not have the prickle factor so most people allergic to wool can wear alpaca. Alpaca will ensure that any items made will turn out lighter, warmer and softer than sheep’s wool. Alpaca is a more flexible fibre than wool. Suri alpaca fleece is known for its shine. It is commonly used in high end woven goods.

Merinos – The majority of the world’s merino originates from Australia and New Zealand. Merino comes in many variations depending on the sheep. Extra Fine Merino is the finest and softest. Extra fine merino gives a smooth and clear stitch definition and garments that last for years.

Types of knitting

Circular knitting is a form of knitting that creates a seamless tube. This type of knitting is cast on and the circle of stitches is joined. Knitting is worked in a spiral. Later, circular needles are used to knit in the round, these needles look like two short knitting needles connected by a cable between them. Machines also produce circular knitting; double bed machines can be set up to knit on the front bed in one direction then the back bed on the return. Generally sweaters are knitted in the round.

Combined knitting is a style that combines Eastern-style knitting with the Western techniques. This is done by wrapping the yarn the opposite way while purling, the knitter changes the orientation of the resulting loops; then the next row’s knit stitches can be formed by inserting the needle from the right instead of  from the left. The needle is always inserted from the right, whether knitting or purling. This technique is suitable for all knitted fabrics.

Continental Knitting is done with the yarn held in the left hand. Unlike English knitting, the yarn is held in the left hand; the motion of bringing the yarn forward with a needle held in the other hand is sometimes known as picking. Continental knitting is seen as an efficient method and requires the shortest number of specific hand motions per stich thus preferred by professional hand-knitters.

English knitting, also known as right-hand knitting or throwing, is where the yarn to be knit into the fabric is carried in the right hand. This style of knitting is used throughout the English-speaking world.

Flat knitting is used to produce knitted fabrics where the work is turned periodically; this is where the fabric is knitted from alternating sides. The two sides are usually designated as the right side and the wrong side. Flat knitting is normally contrasted with circular knitting, in which the fabric is always knitted from the same side. Flat knitting can be complicated compared to circular knitting, since the same is produced by two different movements when knitted from the right and wrong sides. In flat knitting, the fabric is usually turned after every row.

Warp knitting is a group of knitting methods in which the yarn does a zigzag along the length of the fabric, following adjacent columns of knitting, rather than a single row. Warp knitting requires that the number of separate strands of yarn is equal to the number of stitches in a row; warp knitting is almost always done by machine, not by hand. All warp-knit fabrics are resistant to runs and relatively easy to sew.

Patterns

The Aran sweater is a style of sweater that takes its name from the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland. The style of sweater is sometimes known as a fisherman sweater. It is a bulky garment with prominent cable patterns on the chest, often cream-colored.

Fair Isle is a knitting technique used to create patterns with multiple colours. This takes its name from Fair Isle, a tiny island in the north of Scotland that forms part of the Shetland Islands. Traditional Fair Isle patterns have a limited palette of five or so colours, use only two colours per row, are worked in the round, and limit the length of a run of any particular colour. Traditionally a Fair Isle sweater is constructed by knitting the body of the sweater in the round, sewing or otherwise fastening the work securely where the arm holes are to go, and then cutting the knit fabric to make the armholes

Intarsia involves one active colour on any given stich, this is unlike any other multicolour techniques, the yarn is not carried across the back of the work; when a colour changes on a given row, the old yarn is left hanging. Sweaters with large, solid-colour features like fruits, flowers, or geometric shapes are all examples of intarsia.

The argyle pattern is made of diamonds that are in a diagonal checkerboard arrangement. Most of the time argyle layouts contain layers of overlapping motifs; this adds a sense of three-dimensionality, movement, and texture. As a knitting pattern, argyle is generally done using the intarsia technique. Argyle patterns are also occasionally woven.

Sizing Guide

Mens

Womens

Where to buy

Woolovers

This company started in 1989 and are now a world class retailer for men’s and ladies classic and contemporary knitwear. They have websites for Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand and the UK to help expand their business internationally. They provide Wool, Cotton & Cashmere knitwear and ensure that the yarns are of the highest quality and that all of their styles are fully machine washable.

Wolsey

Wolsey is a heritage British clothing brand and was founded in 1755, making it one of the oldest existing textile companies in the world. Wolsey sells men’s clothing and accessories, including, socks, underwear and scarves

Austin Reed

Austin Reed began as a small tailor in London and has today grown in to The Austin Reed Group which boasts over a century of design excellence and an international reputation with a passion for quality without compromise. The company expanded into women’s wear and highly-anticipated launches of the diffusion labels RED, Cut and Luxury for Less, Austin Reed continues to innovate with an ethos that represents style and substance simultaneously.

TM Lewin

T.M.Lewin was established in 1898 and based itself on quality and value, and worked hard to establish itself. T.M.Lewins earned a reputation as a first class shirt tailor. Today the company make shirts, suits and shoes, keeping the same quality as when it was first established. They have also introduced brightly coloured, checked, striped and patterned shirts wear. They have an in-house design team that creates over 100 new textiles every month to ensure originality with their clothes.

Lyle & Scott

Lyle & Scott were founded in 1874 on the Scottish Borders in a place called Hawick. They designed an exclusive Cashmere collection with Christian Dior. They also offered a golf range, as well as clothing the Ryder Cup Team. In 2001 the brand was updated which marked the beginning of a new era for Lyle & Scott, this led to the launch of their vintage range. The company range a variety of different clothing to meet individual needs.

Owning of Alpaca is quite in fashion in the UK. There are 25,000 alpaca in the UK who on average live for about 15 years and yields soft luxurious yarn. Alpaca luxury yarn is manufactured in Britain from the fleeces of Alpacas farmed in the UK.

Alpaca fibre is referred to as the fibre of the Gods. It is softer, more luxurious, more resilient and stronger than the finest sheep’s wool. It is mostly compared to cashmere, is second in strength only to silk and has excellent thermal properties. It is valued for its silky texture, warmth, it’s lightweight and has no lanolin which makes it hypoallergenic

All yarns in the UK are spun using the worsted process, as this gives the best results of the natural properties of alpaca fibre finishing with strong yarn boasting the natural brightness of the fibre.

Once alpaca fleeces are distributed from owners and breeders they can be used in many ways to create many things. The yarn can be died to create other vibrant colours rather than the usual natural light colours, the alpaca absorbs dye readily and it being a lustrous fibre it reflects the light.

Huacaya, an alpaca that grows soft spongy fiber has natural crimp, making a naturally elastic yarn well-suited for knitting. Spun alpaca is easy and wonderful to work with, it produces perfectly neat finishing on plain and patterned knits. Knitting is the most populist range of alpaca clothing, home or textile ware that is made from alpaca fibre as it is very well-matched to hand knitting when it has been spun using the woolen process.

If you are looking to buy knitwear for children then look no further, this company provide adorable clothing for babies and children of all ages.

Their clothes are designed to meet the demands of growing children, the quality is 100% as well as their value.  Vertbaudet pride themselves on helping kids dress themselves by making their knitwear easy for children to put on and take off. If shopping and Vertbaudet you are sure to get 100% satisfactory service.

www.brightsparksknitwear.co.uk

Bright Sparks is a South West Scotland company that uses high quality yarns from Rowan to produce handknitted and designed knitwear for children. If you are looking to purchase high quality children’s knitwear which is a little bit different then the simple colourful designs of their jumpers and cardis with matching beanie hats could be just what you are after. They are finished with complimentary fun buttons and a spare button & yarn are included with their products.

www.alpaca-select.com

Alpaca Select supply a range of children’s clothing to their customers which compares to the best specialty kid’s brands. Their exclusive range provides a classic, warm and unique fashionable trend and is also very practical to suit different weather. You can be sure that when your child is wearing a product made by alpaca select they will be wearing something individual and unique.

Alpaca Select also sell a variety of accessories including hats, gloves, scarves, socks, Alpaca capes, shawls and ponchos as well as hair bands, slides, bobbles and children’s woven bags.