My favorite knitwear, including budget and care tips

If I’m being honest, it feels selfish talking about my favorite knitwear while we’re experiencing the second wave of the coronavirus in full force here in the Netherlands. I mentioned in my last blog post that I was anticipating going to the office a couple of days a week. Ever since writing that post, the situation here in the Netherlands has drastically changed. We’re back to strictly working from home and public spaces like restaurants and cafes have closed again as a result of an increasing number of infections. 

I should’ve foreseen this but part of me was so happy to have some of my old freedoms back that I pushed all doubts somewhere at the back of my mind. This week has been a jolt back to reality though. I started off with a cold and fever Sunday night and they persisted throughout the week alongside fears that I might have the virus. Thankfully, I tested negative today and I’ve my peace of mind back. 

I preface today’s blog post with these thoughts because I don’t want to come across as tone deaf to our current circumstances. All of us are finding solace in one thing or another. For me, my blog has been an escape from the pandemic, so for now I’ll continue to write here.

Coming to knitwear, I’ve had my fair share of stretched out and pilling sweaters over the years. However, as I’ve educated myself on quality knitwear materials, I’ve come to find some pieces and brands that I truly love and rely on. 

Which materials do I like?

My go to knitwear materials are cotton, wool and cashmere. Cotton pieces are perfect for warmer months, whereas wool and cashmere are true staples in the fall and winter. Not only are these natural fabrics airy and durable, but they’re also better for the environment compared to their polyester and acrylic alternatives. 

While a lot of my basic knitwear like solid-colored crew neck sweaters are pure wool, cotton, or cashmere, I also do have a couple of blends that contain viscose and polyester in addition to natural materials. I find that viscose and polyester blended sweaters have more structure and oomph. On the downside though, they’re more prone to pilling and are far less durable. So, I tend to be critical about adding blends into my wardrobe.

What’s my budget?

Thanks to fast fashion brands, I could probably snap up a trendy looking sweater for five bucks or so but I’m pretty sure it would not last beyond a couple of washes. So I prefer to invest a little more and buy less instead. I’ve about 12 knitwear pieces which I’ve collected over five or six years and continue to use because their quality is great. Pretty much all of these pieces are under the $150 price point because that’s the upper limit of my budget for knitwear. While you can certainly spend more, I’ve found a comfortable balance of quality and style between $75 and $150 in the brands I’ll share today.

Which brands are my favorite?

#1 Naadam

Hands down, my favorite of all knitwear brands is Naadam. Its knitwear is the softest in my wardrobe. If you’ve sensitive skin and are prone to irritation, look no further than Naadam! I own two of their $75 Essential Cashmere Sweaters and even after nearly three years of constant use, my sweaters are as soft and weightless as they were the first time I put them on. There is no excessive stretching or piling on them either. No surprise that Naadam’s $75 Cashmere Sweater has over 1400 five star reviews online.

Naadam sources its cashmere from the Zalaa Jinst white goat in Mongolia. The herders Naadam works with use hand combing instead of shearing, which is very painful and stressful for the goats. Hand combing also yields higher quality fibers for the knits. Among other wonderful facts about Naadam cashmere that you can read up yourself, Naadam’s Gobi Revival Fund supports 1,000 nomadic herding families in Mongolia and has provided veterinary care to over 250,000 goats. What’s not to love about Naadam?

SHOP NAADAM KNITS

#2 Everlane

Everlane cashmere and wool are also terrific quality and available at an accessible price point. I’ve the cashmere turtleneck from Everlane that I’ve worn to death. It’s held its shape very nicely and I’ve noticed little to no pilling. I’ve to say that in comparison to my Naadam cashmere sweaters, the Everlane turtleneck is less soft and cuddly, but I don’t mind that and actually appreciate the variety. 

I love a lot of Everlane’s initiatives in terms of ethics and sustainability, as well their overall transparency. I also appreciate the awareness they’ve created on ethics and sustainability for the average fashion consumer like myself. It’s also one of the first brands to create quality products at a price point accessible to many different budgets. For all these reasons, I always take a peek at Everlane when shopping for my basics especially knitwear!

I’ve Everlane’s oversized recycled cashmere turtleneck, the copped alpaca cardigan, and the square cashmere turtleneck on my list to try in the future.

SHOP EVERLANE’S KNITS

#3 Arket

Part of the H&M group, Arket, is a higher price point than regular H&M and is also driven by transparency about its operations and tangible sustainability goals. I’ve found great quality knitwear within my budget at Arket. 

One of my favorite cardigans that I wear almost every week in wintertime is Arket’s alpaca and merino wool blend cardigan. It’s a timeless and chic style with a slightly deeper v-neck to flaunt your layered necklaces. I’ve the cardigan in a rusty brown, but I’ve had my eyes set on the navy and pink versions too. I’m also very impressed by Arket’s recent move to use recycled cashmere and certified responsible wool in their knitwear. I’m tempted to get a cashmere two-piece loungewear set from the recycled and responsible line considering how much time I’ll be spending at home in the coming months.

SHOP ARKET KNITS

#4 COS

Like Arket, COS is also part of the H&M group and is driven by better quality and transparency goals. I look to COS for more unusual knitwear styles like oversized and asymmetric cuts. I’ve a COS circle neck tunic in pure merino wool that’s unbelievably chic and effortless. I love wearing it on its own with leggings and a large wool scarf, but I also love wearing it with tailored pants and a white button-down underneath for a more lifted look. 

COS quality is reasonable for its price point and the variety of styles at offer. I’m currently drooling over these cashmere vests and might snap one up for my spring capsule if they go sale.

SHOP COS KNITS

#5 Reiss

Let me admit straight away that Reiss knitwear is definitely not under $150 at original price. However, I’ve managed to find some beautiful Reiss knitwear in seasonal sales and on the pre-loved market within my budget, so I definitely want to encourage others to try that route. 

Per se, Reiss isn’t an exclusive knitwear label like Naadam, but it creates some stunning knitwear pieces that aren’t the usual crew necks. I love the asymmetrical necklines that Reiss does season after season. I also have noticed that Reiss knitwear is hardly ever pure wool or cashmere. Almost always there is a blend with polyamide or viscose, but I make an exception because the quality holds forever and the styles at offer are very unique.

SHOP REISS KNITS

How do I care for my knitwear?

In all honesty, I don’t baby my knitwear at all. My top tips to make your knitwear last are:

• Wash your knitwear only when stained or smelling
• Wash on the handwash cycle (30 degrees or lower) in the washer, which I do, or literally handwash if in doubt
• Dry knitwear flat instead of in the dryer so it maintains shape
• Fold knitwear instead of hanging it so it doesn’t stretch out
• Comb or shave your knitwear regularly to increase its life (I use this one and it’s been great!)

I’m always up to try new knitwear brands, so if you’ve any favorites of your own, do share them with me! I’m on the hunt for basic mid-length cardigans and at a loss of affordable options in cashmere.

Thank you for reading and enjoy your weekend!