Design Stories
- Traces of the Hand Knit Collection

Some pieces from the 2026AW knit collection embrace elements that are intentionally left feeling unfinished.

Against precisely knitted foundations, hand-applied embroidery, fringes, ropes, and other details bring a character that could never be created by machine alone.
Even loose threads and subtle irregularities—details that would normally be carefully finished—are deliberately left in place as part of the design.

Not everything needs to be perfectly refined.
By embracing the traces of the human hand as a design element, we seek to create an organic, slightly imperfect character that could never emerge from an entirely uniform knit.

Botanical Embroidery Cardigan

A solid, high-gauge crewneck cardigan designed to resist pilling is embellished with dimensional floral embroidery using a variety of yarns.

Against the clean surface of the high-gauge knit, soft wool roving and mohair yarns with a deliberately looser, more delicate texture are layered to create floral forms through embroidery and loops.
Fringe details are left hanging in places, adding a sense of dimension beyond that of traditional, flat embroidery.

During the development process, we experimented with various components to construct the flowers, paying particular attention to the way different colors blend together.

Rather than creating flowers that appear too literal, the forms are intentionally distorted and abstracted, allowing the organic character of plants to emerge through the shapes.

The result has a slightly handcrafted, almost homespun quality that resists looking too perfectly composed.
By adding dynamic, hand-worked elements to the minimalist cardigan, we created a playful piece with a sense of spontaneity.

Multi Stripe Knitted Shirts

A knitted shirt featuring multi-colored stripes created using intarsia jersey knitting.

Rather than using pre-mixed yarn, two to three single-color yarns are twisted together to create the effect of a single mixed yarn.
This technique gives the stripes a depth and nuanced texture that goes beyond a simple striped pattern.

With a compact fit that can be worn like a polo shirt or styled open like a cardigan, this piece was designed to be versatile enough to wear across seasons and in a variety of ways.

Randomly placed fringes are then added by hand. Intentionally left hanging on the surface, they retain an unfinished, frayed quality, as though the piece were still in the process of being made.

By introducing subtly irregular details into the refined knit structure, we capture the natural variations and traces of the human hand that cannot be achieved by machine alone.

The same approach is carried through to a skirt in the collection, created as part of the same series.

Stitched Cable Cardigan

An updated take on last year’s asymmetrical low-gauge cardigan, which sold out immediately, with added dimension and a bolder presence.

The cable-knit sections are densely knitted from 100% wool worsted yarn, giving them substantial weight and depth while creating rich shadows within the knit itself.
In contrast, the soft, fluffy textures alongside them are kept light and supple, allowing contrasting qualities to coexist within a single piece.

A distinctive detail is the rope threaded through the gaps of the dimensional cable knit. Each rope is threaded by hand, adding another layer of depth and character to the knit.

Different knitted textures and components are rearranged and assembled across multiple sections, ultimately bringing them together as a single piece.
This approach is also connected to leinwände’s ongoing exploration of “patchwork knitwear.”

Rather than forcing different elements into uniformity, each one is brought together while preserving its own texture and presence.
It is this resulting irregularity that gives the knit its distinctive character.

The subtle movement of yarn, fraying edges, layers, and traces left by the human hand.

The slight variations that emerge through handwork, along with intentionally unfinished details.
As these elements come together, knitwear becomes more than simply something that has been knitted—it becomes something that carries a sense of the time and care spent shaping it by hand.

In the 2026AW knit collection, we approach these “traces of the human hand” as an integral part of the design.

Explore the knit collection