Knitster is a luxury knitwear manufacturer founded in 2017 by Emma McClelland and her business partner Aysen Bayram. Driven by a shared passion for creativity and entrepreneurship, they set out to build a brand of their own, that would allow them to tap into their creative ambition.
Knitster specialises in mid-to heavy-gauge garments for men and women, with a particular focus on traditional men’s sweaters. Its products combine high-quality, traditional British design and manufacturing with a strong commitment to sustainability.
That ethos is reflected in the company’s approach to production. By working with lower minimum order quantities, Knitster helps reduce excess stock and unnecessary pressures on employees across its supply chain.
But as the business grew, so did the complexity of running it.
One of Knitster’s biggest challenges was keeping track of the growing volume of information flowing through the business.
Much of the process was still being managed with pen and paper. While precision is essential at every stage of garment production, manual processes became harder to sustain as order numbers grew.
Information needs to flow across the entire customer journey, from building client relationships through to production and packing lists. As the business expanded, storing, recording and sharing that information effectively became increasingly difficult.
The result was limited visibility across the business, with communication between different functions becoming less efficient. The team knew they needed to change the way they worked, but they didn't necessarily have the tools to know where to start.
That changed when Knitster joined the Made Smarter London programme and began working with Nikos, one of the programme’s Technology Adoption Specialists.
Nikos visited the Knitster facility to understand the business and see its operations first-hand. He quickly identified opportunities that could make an immediate difference.
“He actually came here, which was so refreshing. We were like, wow, you're actually going to come. And the fact that he actually knew about our business, he understood the machinery.”
One of Nikos’ first recommendations was to move the company’s email system from one.com to Outlook. Although simple, it was an important step towards creating a more effective digital infrastructure.
He also encouraged the team to join Brunel University of London and ChangeSchool’s Leadership and Management course and supported Emma throughout the grant application process.
That changed when Knitster joined the Made Smarter London programme and began working with Nikos, one of the programme’s Technology Adoption Specialists.
Nikos visited the Knitster facility to understand the business and see its operations first-hand. He quickly identified opportunities that could make an immediate difference.
“He actually came here, which was so refreshing. We were like, wow, you're actually going to come. And the fact that he actually knew about our business, he understood the machinery.”
One of Nikos’ first recommendations was to move the company’s email system from one.com to Outlook. Although simple, it was an important step towards creating a more effective digital infrastructure.
He also encouraged the team to join Brunel University of London and ChangeSchool’s Leadership and Management course and supported Emma throughout the grant application process.
Knitster invested in CLO 3D, using grant funding secured through the Made Smarter London programme. Instead of relying solely on physical prototypes, the technology will allow Knitster to bring its designs to life digitally and share them more effectively with creative directors and clients.
The impact extends far beyond product development.
“When we get the system in place, everything will be much more organised and free up my team members that are quite admin focused. It will also give me the visibility to make informed decisions about planning production and sales, helping me see what's working and which clients and products are generating the most revenue.”
For Knitster, this increased visibility is key to the next stage of its growth. “I think for the first time, we feel like we're in the right place at the right time when it comes to the luxury knitwear, garment production industry in the UK. I think this template that we're setting up now will allow us to grow.”
With the foundations now in place, Knitster is not just preparing to produce more. It’s building the visibility, capability and confidence it needs to grow sustainably, while playing its part in the future of British luxury garment manufacturing.
