Frisson Knits 

In 2017, Charlotte Jennings and her mother, Belinda, were knitting in front of the TV when they came up with the idea to put their skills to the entrepreneurial test. Since then, Frisson Knits has taken the global fashion scene by storm as one of the It knitwear brands to watch. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, the label offers pieces that are handmade using a fifty-fifty mix of the highest grade of ethically sourced lambswool and kid mohair. Specializing in cardigans, pullovers and vests—all of which come in a myriad of colours—Frisson Knits creates pieces that are luxurious, warm, lightweight and extremely durable, so they’ll last in your closet for years to come.

Pella

Started by friends Petra Calder and Kelly Schaefer when they were in university, Canadian brand Pella (a blend of the duo’s respective first names) aims to fill a gap in the knitwear market by elevating the craft to an art form. Inspired by childhood nostalgia, texture and cut-out collages, the brand’s colourful, youthful pieces add a pop to any outfit. While it all started with bucket hats and balaclavas, Pella has expanded into leg warmers, tops, skirts and even bags, with all materials locally sourced and each piece made to order in Toronto. This season’s highlights include unisex tank tops that are perfect for layering, skirts made with recycled heavyweight jersey yarn and bags made with local shagged wool and recycled scrap mohair and merino.

Lecavalier

Marie-Ève Lecavalier launched her namesake brand in 2018 and has since made a place for herself in the international fashion community with her contemporary designs, playful graphics and one-of-a-kind knitting technique. The Montreal-born designer was a finalist for the LVMH Prize in 2019, and in 2021, she was both the first Canadian woman designer to show at Paris Fashion Week and a finalist for the International Woolmark Prize. Lecavalier’s combination of rudimentary stitching, muted tones and complex designs elevates the pieces, which are made with wool or a polyester polyamide blend. Her perforated knitwear designs can be layered for a more elevated look, while her chunky knits reign supreme for the current season.

PH5

When Wei Lin, the daughter of a knitwear manufacturer, and Zoe Champion, a Parsons School of Design graduate and award-winning designer, met, they discovered that they had a shared vision: They felt they could challenge traditional ideas about knitwear by combining fanciful designs with classic knitting techniques. Based in China and New York, PH5 has made a name for itself with eclectic themes, like that of its fall/winter 2022/2023 collection, which was inspired by space and extraterrestrials and showcases uniquely patterned tops, skirts and dresses with daring cut-outs and elevated colourways. The majority of PH5’s knitwear—including its iconic “Mia Signature Wavy Dress,” which comes in six iterations and features an attention-grabbing wavy hem—is also responsibly made with sustainably sourced materials.

Çanta

Knitwear gets an avant-garde twist with Montreal-based Çanta’s Y2K-inspired fuzzy hand-knit bags, which are made with chenille-style yarn. Styles like “The Puff” and “Drip Drop” dominate the brand’s social media and come in a multitude of hues, including hot pink and rusty brown, two of this season’s top colours. At the moment, Çanta is only available in Montreal boutiques Effe Design, Seconde Vintage and Fabrique 1840, but there are plans in the works to expand this winter with the launch of an online shop, making these eye-catching pieces accessible nationwide.

Hope Macaulay

Colourful knitwear is the name of the game for Northern Ireland-based eponymous brand Hope Macaulay. The label offers a rainbow of colossal knits that are sustainable and made to order and have already garnered some serious social-media love and been worn by the likes of Gigi Hadid, Naomi Osaka and Rosalía. Working with a small team of knitters and seamstresses, whom Macaulay personally trained, the brand uses luxury merino wool and biodegradable vegan nylon to create its most popular pieces, like the “Colossal Knit” jackets, which feature colourful patterns and cuffed balloon sleeves.

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