Hand-Knitted Garment Manufacturing
Expertly Crafted for Orders Up to 1000+

Every garment we make begins with a conversation, a designer’s idea brought to life through the quiet rhythm of handknitting.

At KOCO, we translate sketches, references, or even half-formed ideas into a technical language that handknitters understand.

Most designers have never worked directly with handknits before, so our role is to guide them through every decision: yarn, stitch, size, and feasibility. From the first discussion to the final fitting, the process is structured, collaborative, and transparent.

From Concept to Swatch

Once a concept is agreed, the first step is a swatch. This is a hand-knitted sample of fabric showing how yarn, stitch pattern, and tension will behave. Swatching is vital because it reveals what cannot be predicted on paper: drape, weight, texture, and feel.

Designers can choose from KOCO’s stitch library of more than 500 stitches, ranging from textured knits to openwork, cables, and colourwork, or request a custom adaptation.

This stage also defines a garment’s environmental footprint. KOCO works almost exclusively with natural fibres such as wool, cotton, silk, and mohair. These are renewable, biodegradable, and free from the fossil-fuel origins of synthetics. Even small details, such as sewing seams using the same yarn rather than polyester thread, reduce emissions and keep the garment pure in composition.

Pattern Writing: The Foundation of Consistency

Every KOCO garment is first written as a detailed pattern before a single stitch is cast on.

These are not rough notes but precise, row-by-row instructions for each size and stitch pattern. This system makes handknitting commercially viable for fashion brands: garments remain consistent, repeatable, and dependable. Patterns ensure that a small capsule or a full collection can be produced to identical standards, season after season.

As our founder, Danielle Chiel, says:

“Patterns are our safety net. They guarantee that every knitter produces the same result. That’s why designers trust us.”

Sampling and Refinement

The first garment produced is always a sample. It is knitted by a single artisan from start to finish, photographed, measured, and reviewed with the designer. Adjustments are expected such as a higher neckline, a change in sleeve width, or a softer edge. Each revision is tracked through images and measurements, ensuring clarity and control.

Designers can review samples in person, by post, or digitally. Only after approval does production begin. This stage eliminates guesswork, ensuring the final garment reflects the exact creative intent.

Production: One Knitter, One Garment

When production begins, each artisan takes responsibility for a full garment from casting-on to final finishing. Supervisors oversee progress and check measurements at defined milestones. Every piece is photographed and logged before it leaves India, so designers know exactly what has been made and when it is shipped.

Even at production scale, the process remains fully manual: no electricity, no industrial washing, no powered finishing. Garments are made in naturally lit spaces by women who walk to work and knit using only needles and their hands. This system removes the vast majority of energy and water use found in conventional manufacturing.

Practical Matters

Clarity and consistency are the foundation of every KOCO project.

Feature	What sets Koco apart
Sizing	KOCO’s proprietary sizing is designed specifically for handknits. Garments are shaped to the natural stretch and drape of knitted fabric, not forced into cut-and-sew dimensions.
Consistency	Each size has its own written pattern and checkpoints during production. Finished pieces are measured and photographed before shipment, ensuring reliable uniformity.
Timelines	A prototype usually takes five to six weeks. Full production ranges from eight to fourteen weeks depending on complexity and quantity. Timelines are agreed at the outset so designers can plan collections confidently.
Quantities	Work can begin with a single sample or an order of twenty pieces. The same system scales seamlessly to several hundred garments, allowing designers to grow without changing production partners.

Who We Work With

Fashion Designers: Designers new to handknits often begin with one statement piece and expand from there. We make the transition from concept to production seamless and reliable.

Boutique Labels: Smaller brands gain access to ethical, small-run production without the large minimum orders demanded by factories. Every garment receives the same attention to detail as a couture piece.

Yarn Producers and Designers: We create sample garments that showcase a yarn’s drape, stitch definition, and texture for marketing and trade shows.

Environmentally Conscious Brands: For those measuring true impact, KOCO offers unmatched sustainability credentials. There are no machines, no industrial washing, no powered lighting, and no chemical finishing. The environmental impact is almost zero which is a result of how handknitting inherently works.

Why Hand-Knitting Is the Sustainable Choice

Machine-knitted garments require electricity to operate knitting machines and are then washed and pressed using hot water, steam, and chemicals. This adds up to five to eight kilograms of carbon emissions for every kilogram of fabric produced. KOCO handknits remove this stage entirely.

Even with air freight from India to London, the total footprint of a KOCO jumper remains smaller than that of a machine-knitted one made closer to market. A 700-gram jumper adds roughly four kilograms of CO₂ during shipping, yet avoids up to eight kilograms of emissions by eliminating electricity and washing. The result: fewer total emissions, zero waste, and garments that last longer because people value them more.

Contact Our Founder, Danielle Chiel,
About Hand-Knit Manufacturing

At KOCO Knitting, we will guide you through the process
of producing your exceptional knitwear range.

Collaborative Design Support

For many brands, handknitting feels unfamiliar. KOCO bridges that gap by offering ongoing design support at every stage. Unsure which yarn will drape best? Need to test two stitches side-by-side? We advise, swatch, and sample until the creative vision and technical execution align perfectly.

During sampling, adjustments can be tested in real time. During production, updates flow through photos, videos, and supervisor notes so designers can see progress and respond quickly. This transparency builds trust. The designer never works in isolation. KOCO becomes an extension of their team, turning ideas into garments that are both beautiful and dependable.

The KOCO Difference

Pattern Writing for Every Size: ensures precision and repeatability.
One Knitter, One Garment: builds pride and accountability into each piece.
Hand Finishing: seams are sewn by hand. We do not use linking machines.
Centralised Supervision: every step documented and reviewed.
Ethical Trade: rural women in India earn fair wages through professional skills.
Clear Communication: led by an English-speaking team experienced in Western fashion systems.

The KOCO Difference

Pattern Writing for Every Size: ensures precision and repeatability.
One Knitter, One Garment: builds pride and accountability into each piece.
Hand Finishing: seams are sewn by hand. We do not use linking machines.
Centralised Supervision: every step documented and reviewed.
Ethical Trade: rural women in India earn fair wages through professional skills.
Clear Communication: led by an English-speaking team experienced in Western fashion systems.

Bringing It All Together

At KOCO Knitting, design and development are not abstract ideas. They are tangible, traceable, and built on trust. Each garment carries the mark of one maker’s skill and the quiet integrity of sustainable craftsmanship. When a designer sees their sketch transformed into a garment ready for the runway, it is more than production. It is a collaboration that changes how fashion is made.

“Fashion is full of ideas. Our role is to bring those ideas into form. When a designer sees their sketch become a garment that can be worn, that’s when design and development succeed.”
— Danielle Chiel, Founder, KOCO Knitting

KOCO Knitting's Hand-Knit Services
for Designers and Brands