Womenswear
Contemporary British-Made Women's Cardigans — Voted by the Community
This directory lists 14 brands that make contemporary women's cardigans in the UK. They are most often based in London. Prices run from premium to luxury. Ranked by community upvotes.
Oubas
Oubas is a British knitwear brand founded in 2012 by Kate Stalker, creating timeless pieces using ethically sourced materials and supporting UK artisans. They produce knitwear in Cumbria and work with traditional mills in England.
- Contemporary
- Ethical
- Timeless
Factory shop- Contemporary
- Ethical
- Timeless
- Cara and the Sky
Cara and the Sky
Cara & The Sky is an independent British knitwear brand founded in 2019, specialising in colourful, sustainably-focused knits designed by founder Cara and made in the UK.
- Contemporary
- Ethical
- Contemporary
- Ethical
See these brands on the map15 places from 9 brands, 7 of them shops you can visit.Open the map
Phoebe English
Clothing made in England attempting a variety of solutions towards less extractive fashion systems. Est 2011.
- Bridal
- Casual
- Classic
Shop to visit- Bridal
- Casual
- Classic
O Pioneers
O Pioneers crafts British-made Liberty print dresses, floral designs and hand knitwear in London.
- Contemporary
- Slow Fashion
- Vintage
Shop to visit- Contemporary
- Slow Fashion
- Vintage
Eribé
Eribé is a Scottish knitwear design house founded in 1986, known for contemporary knitwear rooted in Scottish heritage and crafted with traditional techniques.
- Contemporary
- Fairisle
- Heritage
Shop to visit- Contemporary
- Fairisle
- Heritage
Begg × Co
Begg × Co crafts luxury cashmere scarves, knitwear and homeware using traditional Scottish craftsmanship and responsible production methods.
- Classic
- Contemporary
- Heritage
Factory shop- Classic
- Contemporary
- Heritage
&Daughter
&Daughter is a British independent clothing brand rooted in family heritage and craftsmanship. Their knitwear celebrates legacy, quality, and sustainability, with pieces made to last using traditional methods and natural yarns.
- Classic
- Contemporary
- Heritage
- Classic
- Contemporary
- Heritage
ROVE Knitwear
ROVE Knitwear, founded in 2013, is an independent British brand specialising in sustainable, long-lasting knitwear made in England using British spun wool.
- Classic
- Contemporary
- Ethical
Factory shop- Classic
- Contemporary
- Ethical
Moda de la Maria
Moda de la Maria is a British independent fashion brand founded in 2019, creating timeless womenswear with a focus on sustainability and craftsmanship.
- Classic
- Contemporary
- Formal
- Classic
- Contemporary
- Formal
ELWIN
ELWIN is a British luxury brand crafting sustainable women's knitwear and clothing.
- Contemporary
- Ethical
- Slow Fashion
- Contemporary
- Ethical
- Slow Fashion
- Justine Tabak
Justine Tabak
Justine Tabak is a British clothing brand making small-batch, locally crafted womenswear in England using traditional skills and natural fabrics.
- Contemporary
- Country
- Slow Fashion
- Contemporary
- Country
- Slow Fashion
Green Thomas
Green Thomas is a Scottish knitwear brand founded in 2015 by Emma Green and Alan Thomas, offering quality scarves, hats, gloves, and socks made in Scotland from wool and cashmere.
- Contemporary
- Contemporary
- Stalf
Stalf
Stalf offers handmade clothing including Cocoon Trouser, Cocoon Jumpsuit and Flutter Blouse. Uplifting easy-wear classics, made to order in-house at The Pink Studio in Lincolnshire UK.
- Casual
- Contemporary
- Slow Fashion
- Casual
- Contemporary
- Slow Fashion
Navy Grey
Navygrey is a British knitwear brand focused on timeless, sustainable designs. Known for its high-quality natural wool, the brand emphasizes craftsmanship, eco-conscious production, and classic elegance.
- Classic
- Contemporary
- Ethical
- Classic
- Contemporary
- Ethical
Shops run by brands that make contemporary women's cardigans
6 of the 14 brands that make contemporary women's cardigans have a shop you can visit: 3 in London, others in Ayr, Flookburgh, Margate and 1 other town.
Ayr
Begg × Cofactory shop
Flookburgh
Oubasfactory shop
Margate
ROVE Knitwearfactory shop
Melrose
This independent directory lists UK-made clothing brands, and marks those that make only some items here.Why choose British-made?
A Brief History of British Made Cardigans
The cardigan takes its name from James Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan, the British Army officer who led the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava in 1854, during the Crimean War. The garment was modelled on the knitted wool waistcoat worn by British officers in that war. It began as menswear, and Coco Chanel later helped make it a staple for women with her jersey cardigan suits of the 1910s and 1920s. Knitting in Britain is much older than the cardigan. Hand knitting was well established before machines arrived, and the stocking frame, credited to William Lee of Calverton near Nottingham in 1589, began the mechanisation of the craft. Framework knitting later became a major industry in Nottingham and Leicester, and in the 1750s Jedediah Strutt's Derby rib attachment allowed ribbed fabric to be knitted by machine. British-made cardigans draw on this long knitting tradition, using natural fibres such as wool and established methods suited to a garment made for layering.