Are you knitwear obsessives? If you look back at the most popular fashions of the last few decades, it’s not really about the simple jumper or cardi. The exception being the 90s when the grunge cardigan was all the rage. We live in the days when great knitwear is still available, and we will stake our claim. A golden era, if you will. This essential piece of clothing, especially for northerners, has become a fashion statement and more than just a warm item.
How do we find out? Working on the forefront of fashion and trends is how we know this. We have seen a tremendous interest in certain knitwear items over the years. This could be cool cult pieces from Isabel Marant and Ganni or popular high-street favorites from Arket and &Other Stories Lyst, a global shopping platform, informed us that searches for knitwear had increased 51% month-on-30 when we reached out to them. Net-a-Porter noticed a growing demand for knitwear pieces starting in August among their European customers.
With this information, we created our first ever knitwear report. We’ll tell you what pieces are most in demand and also give you the latest trends. Continue scrolling to learn everything you need about knitwear in 2021.
The trends
Knitwear trends have been wild this year, honestly. It’s nearly impossible to keep track of all the trends in knitwear. We’ve managed it. There was an explosion of colour on the runways. There were rainbow stripes by Christopher John Rogers and Chloe as well as graphic prints by Ganni and Ashish, and saturated colours from Gucci and Aknvas. Instagram is a great place to find new trends. We’ve seen cut-out jumpers, cropped cardis and graphic prints from Ganni and Ashish, which indicate a love for sassier takes on knitwear.
Lyst found that knitwear is in high demand. These include polo knitwear (up 43%) and patterned sweaters (24%). There has also been an increase in the demand for matching knitwear sets. Net-a-Porter confirmed that brightly coloured knitwear is in high demand right now. The luxury retailer also has a growing demand for knitwear by The Elder Statesman. NAP reports that the brand’s tie-dye pieces such as the Day Break Tie-Dyed Cashmere Sweater or the Olympus Tie-Dyed Cashmere Carigan have been very popular.
The striped knit is at the other end of the pullover spectrum. This more simple piece is also a popular choice this season. Toteme’s striped Merino wool turtleneck sweater and Arket’s Breton-style jumper have been key purchases. Cable knits are making a comeback and are sneaking back in.
Shop our editor’s choices:
- The Elder Statesman Day Break Tie Dye Cashmere Sweater £1205
- Ganni Intarsia Knit Jumper £871
- &Other Stories Cropped Cable Knit Cardigan £85
High-street heroes
Is there a better time than now to buy great knitwear on the high-street? This item is available from so many affordable brands that we will not be able to resist. We’ve identified some key pieces that customers continue to purchase since August. We even have a top five of their favorite items. Editor said that the winners were Arket’s now-sold-out striped cotton jumper and H&M’s rib-knit sweater, &Other Stories mock-neck sweaters, H&M’s collar-detail jumper, and a wrap cardigan by & Other Stories These pieces can be worn with many different items in your closet, so you don’t need to spend a lot of money to get a durable piece.
Shop our editor’s choices:
- H&M Rib-Knit Cardigan £18
- &Other Stories Mock Neck Sweater – £35
- COS Wool Wrap Cardigan £69
Cult Purchases
There’s been a lot of interest in cult knitwear, from Ganni’s large knit to Khaite’s bra-and-cardi combination to Khaite’s knitted bra and cardi. There are many pieces this season that everyone will love, which we have seen on Instagram and street stylists. Fashion insiders are always on the lookout for unique knitwear pieces, such as Jacquemus’s super-cropped cardi or Toteme’s striped jumper.
Shop our editor’s choices:
- Jacquemus Le Alzou Cropped Cardigan £270
- Toteme Striped Roll Neck jumper £410
- Stine Goya Harry Fair Isle Knit Cardigan £280
