With its first British store, Italian knitwear brand Artknit brings luxury Italian craftsmanship to SW3. A glass panel with The Modern House of Knitwear printed across it gives a glimpse of the interiors from the outside. Inside, draped fabrics, hard wood and metal accents are the backdrop to Artknit’s womenswear and menswear styles, which are set amongst handcrafted furniture and tiles from the brand’s birthplace, Biella in northern Italy. The store opened in Chelsea in late October, and will reside there for the next few months.
“London feels like a natural home for Artknit Studios. [It’s] a city that values the same things we do: quality, craftsmanship, and timeless design,” says CEO and founder, Alessandro Lovisetto. Each of Artknit’s pieces is simply designed, and handmade in Italy.
Lovisetto started Artknit Studios in 2018 with the goal of preserving the Italian knitwear industry while also bringing it into the 21st century. The brand emphasises traditional skills and craftsmanship, collaborating with knitwear mills and artisanal workshops across the country and producing small batches to avoid overproduction. These craftspeople include Maglifico di Sonia in Turin, which makes knits to order, and Pantalonificio di Natale, a trouser-maker in Barletta.
Much like the retail space itself, garments are timeless yet contemporary. For women, there are chunky cable knits, while ribbed wool hoodies provide a means to dress for comfort without looking sloppy. Its range of dresses are a stylish reminder that these fibres shouldn’t be constrained to just jumpers and cardigans.
For men, Artknit’s selection of wool blazers and suit trousers are prime for office environments. It also has summer covered, with linen tailored shorts that are made for more tropical climes. But for staple knits that will form the foundations of a wardrobe, look to the Recashmere collection, which consists of 35 per cent virgin fibres and 65 per cent upcycled fibres.
Crucially, Artknit Studios has a strong commitment to sustainability. It uses high-quality natural fibres like merino wool, cashmere, organic cotton and linen, and every product is completely traceable through a digital product passport. It details the product’s journey, from the raw material farms to the warehouse it has been distributed from, its environmental impact and what specific brand values it adheres to.
“We’re thrilled to bring our mission to a new, discerning community,” says Lovisetto.
Artknit Studios
165 Draycott Avenue, SW3 3AJ
Hours:
Mon to Fri 10am–2.30pm, 3.30pm–7pm
Sat 10am–7pm
Sun 11am–6pm
