As the climate crisis grows and fast fashion brands are increasingly under attack for their role in harming the planet, knitting is becoming increasingly popular and, according to some, could help slow global warming, Euronews reported. ".
In September, Lyon was in full swing as the French city hosted a knitting festival.
In the face of an ongoing climate crisis, which the fashion industry is partly blamed for exacerbating, many fashion lovers are looking for alternatives.
Knitting is a hobby that is relatively easy to pick up and is known to be addictive once you get the hang of it. In addition, it is an extension of the "make and fix" idea that is increasingly being adopted by people.
Whatever the season, you're likely to see some form of knit on the catwalks in the four fashion capitals of London, New York, Paris and Milan.
Italian luxury house Fendi sent models down the catwalk in variations of this fabric as part of its Spring/Summer 2024 collection - and they weren't alone.
"Knitwear doesn't need to look absolutely perfect, there's beauty in the imperfections of the knit, just look at Vivienne Westwood's new AW23 collection," said fashion analyst Jennifer Walderdorf.
This catwalk featured a myriad of "untangled" items, including a frayed grey-brown jumper with a monkey print from Westwood's spring 1993 collection - building on the idea that clothes shouldn't be "worn once and then that thrown away".
Millie Abrams of Tribe Yarns agrees that the popularity of knitwear on the catwalk and worn by celebrities inspires many people.
"Knitting is usually stigmatized as old-fashioned and outdated. However, recently there has been a wave of celebrities and influencers promoting knitted fashion, which has led to a sharp turnaround in the craft's popularity. Younger generations are now using knitting as a fun and trendy way to express themselves themselves by creating stylish and unique fashion looks on a budget," said Abarms.
"Knitting is a slow process and each garment can take a long time, meaning that people who make their own clothes will have a smaller and more suitable wardrobe and are less likely to buy fast fashion items that they won't wear," says Raymond Lam, fashion expert at Vendula London.
"Fast fashion clothes are usually not designed to last very long, and sometimes the materials are not durable enough to be worth repairing. By knitting their own clothes, manufacturers control what they use and can ensure that they are using high-quality materials, to ensure the garment's longevity," Lam added.
"The fibers used for knitting are more often natural or natural blends, which makes them more sustainable than synthetic fabrics," said the fashion expert, adding that people who dedicate themselves to their knitting projects "feel a sense of pride from wearing items they made themselves from scratch".
As well as being much more fitting than cheap, mass-produced clothes off the shelf, many fashionistas who have taken up knitting say it's a way to secure a unique piece of clothing tailored just for their style.
"Knitting is the best craft for promoting sustainable fashion and fighting climate change. As more people create their own fashion items, this in turn means there is less demand for fast fashion," explained Millie Abrams.
"The reason? Knitting helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by providing high-quality and long-lasting clothing items, resulting in fewer disposable wardrobes... This ensures less need for multiple clothing items and rather smaller a closet full of favorite things," added Abrams./BGNES
Can knitting slow global warming?
