The leisurewear category continues to thrive long after the initial pandemic boom. There remains a persistent demand for comfort that is continually fueled by the elevated basics and shapewear trends all over social media, stores, and the runway. Knitwear is a core part of these trends and the thriving leisurewear market. Across the US and UK, the amount of sold-out luxury knitwear items across brands and retailers increased 45 percent over the past 12 months, according to retail analytics platform Edited.
Brands that never prioritized knitwear before are now shifting their product assortments to include more pieces to meet this demand, but it’s not always easy. Knitwear has long been known in the industry as the most time-consuming product from development to production. Not only does knitwear require silhouette design, but it also requires the design of the material itself through stitch, technique, and thickness. Couple that with knitwear’s standard long sampling lead times and the category seems unattainable.
Brooklyn-based knitwear factory, Tailored Industry, developed a platform that allows brands to react to this demand with ease and in real-time – with real profits. They have done the heavy lifting of refining highly salable knit silhouettes and making them work in a variety of quality yarns and stitches. Brands can start with a competitive product that’s ready to produce and shift their focus to differentiating and marketing it for utmost success in a thriving market.
Private label knitwear is a particularly lucrative way to capitalize on the current leisurewear demand. Already, the private label industry is known for boosting margins and increasing brand equity. Because private labels are often “fast fashion” and made overseas, there is a considerable opportunity to produce higher quality and sustainable private labels products.
Tailored has the ability to create knitwear from scratch rapidly without foregoing quality. Add their on-demand feature and private labels can keep up with “fast fashion” competitors and do it sustainably, with little to no waste. Furthermore, in a market where markdown or return allowances are not available, private labels can use Tailored to sell products without purchasing bulk inventory. When producing only what sells, there’s no leftover inventory to worry about.
There is a knitwear renaissance happening before our eyes and there’s no time like now to join the party. This once exclusive party can now be enjoyed by anyone, with the strides Tailored Industry has taken developing their innovative platform. They prove that manufacturing knitwear domestically benefits the brand and the environment, pushing the industry forward through sustainable practices and a focus on high-quality design.
