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Collection Design & Development
Noble x April Knit Studio:
Launching a New Sweater Category
2026
Noble
Client
Noble
Location
San Diego, California
Studio Services
Creative Direction
Material Sourcing
Technical Design
Manufacturer Partnership
Material Sourcing
Technical Design
Manufacturer Partnership
Deliverables
3-Piece Knitwear Capsule
WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED
When Noble reached out to us, knitwear didn't exist in their brand yet. They had a loyal customer, a strong aesthetic, and a clear commitment to sustainability — but an entirely new category to build from scratch. That's where we started.
9 months
Design to Production
Organic Cotton
Sustainability Initiative
Peru
Production
$220-$310
Retail Price Point
Braided Cable Organic Cotton Set
Launching a New Knitwear Category
Noble is a California-based sustainable clothing brand built on intentional drops, strong core pieces, and a deep commitment to organic materials — from the farm to the hands that make them. When founder Jen came to our knitwear design studio, sweaters weren't part of the picture yet. And with every new category comes real risk: knitwear development can cost more than wovens or cut & sew, and it requires an entirely different network to execute well.
Noble is a California-based sustainable clothing brand built on intentional drops, strong core pieces, and a deep commitment to organic materials — from the farm to the hands that make them. When founder Jen came to our knitwear design studio, sweaters weren't part of the picture yet. And with every new category comes real risk: knitwear development can cost more than wovens or cut & sew, and it requires an entirely different network to execute well.
Where they Started
Noble has been in business for over ten years, with a loyal customer base, a clear aesthetic, and growing brand collaborations — all built around a tight production network in Peru. That relationship isn't just logistical. Peru is a country with a generational skillset in textiles, and Noble had already established deep relationships with Peru clothing manufacturers who produce their signature cotton canvas pieces. Sustainable, ethical manufacturing is foundational to who they are — so when it came time to expand into knitwear, they weren't starting from scratch culturally. They just needed the right door opened.
But knitwear is its own ecosystem — different mills, different timelines, and most importantly, a different kind of factory. Noble needed to find a knitting factory that could match the standard they'd already set: skilled, fairly compensated makers working within a traceable and responsible supply chain. Finding sustainable clothing manufacturers who specialize in fully-fashioned knitwear, while also aligning with Noble's values and price point, is exactly the kind of work our studio exists to do. Fortunately, Peru is one of the best countries in the world to produce knitwear. The opportunity was already there, it just needed someone who knew where to look.
Noble has been in business for over ten years, with a loyal customer base, a clear aesthetic, and growing brand collaborations — all built around a tight production network in Peru. That relationship isn't just logistical. Peru is a country with a generational skillset in textiles, and Noble had already established deep relationships with Peru clothing manufacturers who produce their signature cotton canvas pieces. Sustainable, ethical manufacturing is foundational to who they are — so when it came time to expand into knitwear, they weren't starting from scratch culturally. They just needed the right door opened.
But knitwear is its own ecosystem — different mills, different timelines, and most importantly, a different kind of factory. Noble needed to find a knitting factory that could match the standard they'd already set: skilled, fairly compensated makers working within a traceable and responsible supply chain. Finding sustainable clothing manufacturers who specialize in fully-fashioned knitwear, while also aligning with Noble's values and price point, is exactly the kind of work our studio exists to do. Fortunately, Peru is one of the best countries in the world to produce knitwear. The opportunity was already there, it just needed someone who knew where to look.
What We Built Together
Our studio's first strategic decision was to keep sourcing and production in Peru. It reduced logistics complexity, shortened timelines, and kept the brand's sustainability story intact — no new countries, no new ethical unknowns, no compromises.For yarn sourcing, we worked through several organic cotton options before landing on a soft-spun Tanguis cotton. This is where the material story gets interesting.
Our studio's first strategic decision was to keep sourcing and production in Peru. It reduced logistics complexity, shortened timelines, and kept the brand's sustainability story intact — no new countries, no new ethical unknowns, no compromises.For yarn sourcing, we worked through several organic cotton options before landing on a soft-spun Tanguis cotton. This is where the material story gets interesting.
Design Direction Sketching
* In my Concept and design process, I offer 3-5 options per idea. This is a page from our first draft of sketches. Jess went with option E.
What’s so important to note here is that this wasn’t just a design exercise—it was a relationship-first approach. Each step was guided by Casa de Stela’s brand values: community, transparency, and sustainability. That’s why working with local Peruvian artisans felt so natural, and the partnership was such a beautiful fit.
THE MATERIAL: WHY TANGUIS COTTON
Tanguis is a long-staple cotton grown along Peru's dry coastal region. Compared to conventional cotton, it's naturally more pest-resistant, requiring significantly fewer pesticides and chemical treatments. It needs less water to grow, can be harvested multiple times per year, and produces a stronger, more breathable fiber that resists pilling and holds color exceptionally well. For a brand committed to organic cotton and traceable manufacturing, it was the obvious choice — and it gives Noble's knitwear a softness and durability that customers can feel.
The Design & Production
For production, we sourced a Fair Trade certified manufacturing partner through Peru Moda — a manufacturer the Noble team has now visited twice. That relationship is a long-term asset, not just a supplier contact.The launch collection itself started with three pieces: a cardigan, a pair of shorts, and a vest. As a knitwear designer, the brief was to create pieces that felt inevitable for Noble — drawing on coastal Californian ease and vintage knitting references, effortless to wear and easy to style alongside what Noble already made. We paid particular attention to fit, ensuring each piece layered naturally over Noble's bestselling Utility Dress. Knitwear that earns its place in the wardrobe, not just the capsule.
The Design & Production
For production, we sourced a Fair Trade certified manufacturing partner through Peru Moda — a manufacturer the Noble team has now visited twice. That relationship is a long-term asset, not just a supplier contact.The launch collection itself started with three pieces: a cardigan, a pair of shorts, and a vest. As a knitwear designer, the brief was to create pieces that felt inevitable for Noble — drawing on coastal Californian ease and vintage knitting references, effortless to wear and easy to style alongside what Noble already made. We paid particular attention to fit, ensuring each piece layered naturally over Noble's bestselling Utility Dress. Knitwear that earns its place in the wardrobe, not just the capsule.
We covered a size range from XS to 2X
One of the features of the vest, is that it can be worn 2 ways. As a square neck and as a v-neck
THE CATEGORY STRATEGY
Launching a new knitwear category means more than great product. We built this collection knowing the first season was about awareness, not volume. At a higher price point, from a brand not yet known for knitwear, customers needed time to understand the pieces, to see where they lived in the Noble wardrobe, and to trust them.
The cardigan became the bestseller. That told us something. The customer was ready she just needed to be introduced.
The cardigan became the bestseller. That told us something. The customer was ready she just needed to be introduced.
Spring launch campaign
The foundation is in place: the yarn sourcing relationships, the ethical manufacturing partner, the knitwear design language. Now it's about continuity — refining the range, deepening the customer's connection to it, and building Noble's recognition as a brand that does knitwear as thoughtfully as everything else they make.
This is how a category gets built. Not in one drop, but deliberately, over time.
This is how a category gets built. Not in one drop, but deliberately, over time.
Braided Cable Cardigan in oat colorway
THE PROCESS: WHAT AN ONGOING PARTNERSHIP LOOKS LIKE
April Knit Studio thrives in long term partnerships. For Noble, and other similar brands we function as an extension of their team, the dedicated knitwear arm of a brand that doesn't have one in-house.
The brands that benefit most from this kind of partnership are the ones who are have an established customer base, a small team, and systems in place. Because if you've ever worked in or run a fashion brand, you know that seasons never truly end. Fall grading and production overlaps with spring's first proto fits. Approvals are happening while samples are in transit. Timelines compress and stretch at the same time. That's exactly where we come in, stepping in as the oversight and point of continuity for the knitwear category.
That means we carry the category knowledge, the manufacturer relationships, and the design continuity from one season to the next. When the cardigan became the bestseller, we were already thinking about what that meant for Fall. That kind of embedded partnership is what allows a brand to build a real knitwear identity over time.
That means we carry the category knowledge, the manufacturer relationships, and the design continuity from one season to the next. When the cardigan became the bestseller, we were already thinking about what that meant for Fall. That kind of embedded partnership is what allows a brand to build a real knitwear identity over time.
Sandra Ney
Founder + Creative Director
Will & Ivey
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