You've got me in stitches

When I think about my wish lists for what I’d like to add to my wardrobe over the years, there is always one thing that features consistently. That is really good quality, beautiful knitwear.

Knitwear has an heirloom quality to it and if you choose the right pieces, these will be the items that you pass down for other generations to enjoy. My grandmother's sisters knit Aran jumpers and cardigans and I still remember the pieces that were made for me as a child.

The stitches are so intricate, almost telling a story. We are so lucky here in Ireland to have amazing knitwear designers fusing modern design with heritage features and knitwear is something that we can wear all year round with the right styling.

Knitwear can feel so comforting and out of all the pieces in your wardrobe it can be the one more often than not that holds a lot of memory and sentiment.

NIAO, the independent knitwear label founded by Niaobh Beatty, certainly embodies these ideas of knitwear in her work.

The starting point for Beatty was deeply personal. A cardigan passed down from her grandfather — something worn, kept, and returned to over time. Not just for warmth, but for what it carried. Memory, comfort, a sense of closeness.

It’s a feeling that continues to inform every piece NIAO creates: garments designed not just to be worn, but to be lived in and held onto. Beatty comes from a lineage of makers, with four generations of dressmakers and tailoresses shaping her understanding of clothing from an early age.

That foundation, combined with a later career working across global brands with a focus on sustainability, led to a growing disconnect with how most clothing is made today, synthetic fibres, mass production, and a lack of transparency about both processes and origins.

There’s also a clear, considered perspective on sustainability.

For NIAO, it isn’t treated as an add-on or a marketing message, but as the foundation of the brand. No synthetic fibres. No unnecessary production. A focus instead on longevity, traceability and garments designed to be worn often, repaired when needed, and ultimately kept, with NIAO’s plans to introduce a dedicated repair service in the future.

For me the standout pieces that I think would make great additions to any wardrobe are the Naoise vest and trousers which would be a co-ord that you could wear together or separately year after year. It’s also perfect to wear even in summer but could also be layered up in the colder months.

While knitwear brings to mind the winter months, I love to include it in my summer wardrobe. Worn draped over your shoulders during the day a beautiful, coloured knit makes for an ideal layer for denim shorts and a t-shirt once the sun drops.

I also adore a statement knit cardigan and I have a long duster style knit cardigan in shades of pink and green that I wear a lot in the summer. It looks particularly well styled with white barrel leg jeans, a t-shirt and just a pair of fisherman's sandals worn underneath.

The colours are so vibrant against the backdrop of white and the lighter layers ensure that you’re not overheating. The duster style looks a little bit dressier but also has a flowy feel making it ideal for smart casual style.