Knitwear Design

The fascinating, complex, and multifaceted knitwear sector has always been an important component for all major international fashion brands. Creating knitwear not only means designing the shape and choosing the colour, it’s also about creating the very material that makes the garment or product. Knitted clothing is among the most versatile, both in terms of creativity and adaptability, and gives way to express 100% design creativity.

Knitwear Design

The fascinating, complex, and multifaceted knitwear sector has always been an important component for all major international fashion brands. Creating knitwear not only means designing the shape and choosing the colour, it’s also about creating the very material that makes the garment or product. Knitted clothing is among the most versatile, both in terms of creativity and adaptability, and gives way to express 100% design creativity.

Knitwear Design at a Glance

How has this Discipline evolved over last 5-10 years ?

The discipline has evolved in the following manner in the past decade :

  • Handmades have become popular again and crafters are making money from knitting and other crafty skills
  • There is easier access to exotic yarns and materials especially through the internet
  • Handmade styles can now be sold internationally at a premium price, whilst mass-produced factory-made knitwear continues to get ridiculously cheaper and cheaper
What are the Career Options available - Specialist Roles ?

Knitwear Designers can work in the following roles :

  • Apparel Designer
  • Knitted Fabric Designer
  • Product Developer
  • Graphic Designer
  • Merchandiser
  • Buyer
  • Stylists
  • Visual merchandiser
  • Retail space designer
  • Fashion Forecaster
  • Buyer
  • Retail Planner
  • Independent consultants /Researcher
  • Entrepreneur
  • Quality controller for fabric
  • Quality controller for apparel
  • Costume Designer for Entertainment Industry
What do these Designers do - Regular Tasks?

Following are the regular tasks of Knitwear Designers :

  • Knitwear Designers combine an innovative approach to textiles with a practical view of the end-products as usable products
  • These Designers are employed in a variety of different fields and specialise in product areas such as fully-fashioned knitwear, hand-knitwear, socks and hosiery
  • They oversee the product throughout development and manufacture and therefore need to know about the design and technical side of production
  • A Knitwear Designer may spend their time collecting ideas and looking for trends before sketching ideas or using a computer programme to draw designs. They, then develop these ideas into patterns, make samples and oversee the production of the items
  • They also source, select and buy yarns
What are the Skills & Aptitudes required to be successful at this Career ?

An aspirant of Knitwear Design must possess the following skills :

  • Attention to detail
  • Technical skills in sewing and pattern-making
  • An appreciation of shape, proportion and human anatomy
  • Creative flair and artistic ability
  • An interest in fashion and textiles
  • An understanding of trends and materials
  • A good eye for colour, texture, fabrics and patterns

About Knitwear Design Schools

Which colleges offer programs in this discipline in India ?
College /University Location Course
NIFT Delhi, Mumbai, Kannur, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata B.Des in Knitwear Design
What & How will you learn in this Program ?

A general Knitwear Design programme is developed towards creating design professionals who can cater to Knitted Apparel – an exclusive segment in fashion :

  • The programme has been designed to create well-rounded professionals equipped to handle the challenges of circular and flat-bed knitting in the domestic and export fields
  • Knitwear design students are exposed to a wide range of subjects including :
    • Fashion Art and Illustration
    • Garment Making
    • Patternmaking for Knits
    • Flat and Circular Knitting
    • Computerized Flat Knitting
    • Trends and Forecasting
    • Design Process
    • Knitwear Production and Planning
    • Merchandising and Marketing
  • Traditional design acumen is honed with craft surveys, design and documentation

About the Work Industry/Job Market

What are the New Trends in this Discipline? What can we expect in near future ?

Following recent trends were observed in the discipline :

  • 3D knitting enables designers to create a customized style that can solve problems we find with our current clothing. Seamless styles allow for designs that typical cut-and-sew manufacturing can’t achieve
  • As more people learn about 3D knitting, it is going to become the forefront for creating knitwear, while advancing new ideas that couldn’t have been explored before
  • With ethical and sustainable fashion being more important than ever, 3D knitting is an innovative way to reduce some of our ecological problems
What is the Top & Average Salary that can be expected by Freshers ?
Depending on the brand, company and location, a knitwear design graduate can expect to earn anything between Rs. 4.5-5 lakhs per annum.
Experienced professionals can earn in the range of Rs. 6-9 lakh p.a.
Which are the best Companies / Studios in India for this Discipline ?

Following are the best Companies/Studios for Knitwear Designing in India :

  • Madura Fashion and Lifestyle
  • Louis Philippe
  • Van Heusen
  • Allen Solly
  • Abof.com
  • US Polo Association
  • Arrow
  • Unlimited
  • The Children’s Place
  • Ajio.com
  • Myntra.com
  • Jabong.com
  • Beokoof.com
  • Reliance Brands
  • Max
  • Lifestyle
  • Levis
  • H&M
  • Mothercare
  • Pantaloons
  • Color Plus
  • Jockey
  • Decathlon
  • GAP
  • Pantaloons
  • Future Group
  • Shoppers Stop
  • Defiance Knitting Industries
  • Levis
  • India Fashion
  • Raymond
  • Marsil Exports
  • Vitamins
  • Gini & Joni
What are the top Associations, People or Links to follow for this Discipline ?

Personalities to Follow :

  • Ryan Roche
  • Kim Haller
  • Buffy Reid
  • Archana Kochhar
  • Sam Leutton and Jenny Postle
  • Angela Bell

Associations to Follow :

  • & Daughter
  • Leutton Postle
  • Coohem
  • Sabyasachi Couture
  • Shantanu & Nikhil

Links to Follow :

  • https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2015/nov/01/cutting-edge-knitting-the-future-of-textiles
  • https://www.feedspot.com/infiniterss.php?q=site:http%3A%2F%2Fblog.ravelry.com%2F%3Ffeed%3Drss2
  • https://blog.nobleknits.com/
  • https://blog.loveknitting.com/
  • https://www.masondixonknitting.com/
  • https://blog.knitpicks.com/wpblog/
  • https://www.craftsy.com/blog/knitting/?_ct=rbew
  • https://knitspot.com/
  • https://katedaviesdesigns.com/

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