In this episode of the Women in Wool series, I’m joined by Kate Stalker, founder of OUBAS Knitwear.
Kate runs a knitwear micro factory in the Lake District, where she designs and manufactures fully fashioned knitwear using natural fibres, including British wool. After studying knitwear at Winchester School of Art, she returned to Cumbria and started the business with a single hand flat knitting machine in her parents’ utility room.
Today OUBAS produces knitwear on industrial knitting machines, with everything knitted, linked and finished in house by a small team. The business combines design, manufacturing and small batch production all under one roof.
If you’re interested in British wool, knitwear manufacturing or what it takes to run a small clothing factory in the UK, this episode gives a real behind the scenes look at how it works.
In this episode we cover:
- How Kate started OUBAS with one knitting machine and began selling at local markets and craft fairs
- Why she chose to base the business in the Lake District rather than moving to London
- What it takes to run a knitwear micro factory with industrial knitting machines
- What “linking” is and why fully fashioned knitwear is so labour intensive
- How knitwear is finished after it comes off the knitting machine
- The reality of pricing knitwear when every garment takes hours to produce
- How made to order production helps reduce waste and allows a wider size range
- Why small batch knitwear manufacturing is becoming increasingly important for emerging brands
If you care about British farming, UK manufacturing and using fibres that actually grow on our hillsides, this episode will give you a practical look at how it can be done.
About OUBAS Knitwear
OUBAS Knitwear is a British knitwear brand and micro factory based in the Lake District. The business produces fully fashioned knitwear using natural fibres including British wool, with garments knitted and finished in house.
Alongside its own collection, OUBAS also works with other brands and designers, offering knitwear sampling, development and small batch production.
You can find Kate and Oubas Knitwear at:
Website: www.oubasknitwear.co.uk
Instagram: @oubasknitwear
🚀 Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
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