As the Philippine's only knitwear brand, we are often stereotyped as a winter wear export manufacturer. But it only takes a few moments inside our shop to know that we can do so much more than sweaters.
We provided knitting services to international brands for many decades and shipped our work abroad season after season. Over these years we worked extensively with different fibers, yarns and kept up with technical textile innovations.
These honed our knitting skills and enhanced our knowledge to a level that made us finally ready to embark on opening our own label, ALLENA.
Our Founder and Creative Director, Elsie Standen made sure that comfort was the main focus in developing Allena's designs. For her, this will ensure that even in the heat of summer, knitwear can be worn with ease.
What are the factors that make Allena's Knitwear so comfortable?
(1) MADE FROM BREATHABLE FIBERS
Dressing with comfort and ease in a tropical country is always a challenge. Being comfortable meant wearing a material that is breathable. Unfortunately in a world of fast and affordable fashion, breathability always comes as an afterthought or not all - as long as it is cheap. Natural Fibers which are plant based (such as cotton and bamboo) or animal based (such as wool and cashmere) tend to be more breathable than synthetic fibers and are thus more absorbent to moisture in environments with higher humidity.
(2) STITCHES AND TEXTURES THAT ARE PERMEABLE
(3) EASE OF MOVEMENT
Comfort is achieved by the ease of movement allowed to the body by a garment. A ribbed stitch creates a stretchy fabric that expands and goes back to its original shape without having to add additional inches sideways. Knitwear is inherently stretchable even without ribbing. It can often run across at least three sizes when designed using ribbings and will fit most body types.
(4) LIGHTWEIGHT
A characteristic not often associated with knitwear is that it can be lightweight. Using the finest yarns and the highest knitting gauge will create a durable yet lightweight knitwear.
(5) EXPERTLY CRAFTED AND INNOVATIVE
Knitting is a centuries old craft, our creations always produce timeless pieces. These classic pieces are wise investments, will outlast trends and will be relevant for years to come.
But we also need to evolve and embrace changes within the flat knit industry so that we are competitive without compromising quality.
We keep up with innovations by using Computer Aided Design (CAD) Knitting technologies . The essence of comfort lies within a garment's form and function. CAD knitting is our vehicle to interpret our ideas so that results are seen quicker. This way our time becomes a more valuable resource and knitwear can present smart solutions to present day and future textile requirements.