The Knotty Ones: where Baltic old meets Baltic new

“Our mission is to preserve and promote this craft, and at the same time create career opportunities for knitters”

PRESERVING HERITAGE CRAFTMANSHIP THROUGH MODERN DESIGN

“Knitting is in our blood. When we were at university, we felt that we have this amazing craft in Lithuania, yet we can’t seem to make it modern and contemporary. So we thought, ok, let’s twist it, take the best part, and make it affordable and luxurious. We call it premium knitwear,” explains Akvile Meskauskaite-Dobrajs, Co-founder & COO of The Knotty Ones.

The Knotty Ones is a company that’s proud of its Baltic heritage and tradition, but also a company with a heart and strong social goals: “Our mission is to preserve and promote this craft, and at the same time create career opportunities for knitters, doing something they love. Not just grandmas, but also young mothers,” Akvile says.

SUSTAINABILITY & SOCIAL IMPACT

The company delivers knitwear to consumers and businesses alike in Europe and globally, including in the US. But what’s most interesting about this company is they way they do it, combining hand-made and machine-made production lines: “Many knitters live in rural areas, where employment is a challenge, and it’s nearly impossible to get a job that you actually like. We offer a work-from-home opportunity. The first knitter was a lady from a small town near where Sandra is from. Then her neighbour joined, there was a snow-ball effect and now we have a network of more than 40 knitters.” Knitters receive a package of material and equipment, do their magic and then ship the goods to the warehouse where they are checked, packaged and sent off to the end consumers or retailers. “Our knits are always produced in small batches which could mean less profit for us but ensures we never have leftovers. We only make what we know we’ll sell. We avoid synthetics - always using natural materials – we prefer biodegradable yarns and family-run wool farms, and we avoid plastic in all our shipping too.”

GROWTH & GREATER IMPACT

With business expanding steadily, the company has been looking at B2B sales as much as B2C. “Our B2B side has really grown recently,” Akvile says. To finance this growth, the team secured an EU-guaranteed loan through Noviti, backed by the EIF, that allowed them to invest in production to build up the stock that they are now sending to the UK, US and the rest of Europe. Looking ahead, the company wants to replicate its model of working with local artisans also in the US. “It’s about growing but also about having an even greater impact for artisans,” she adds.

Location: Vilnius, Lithuania

Financial Intermediary: Noviti

SME: The Knotty Ones

Sector: textile

Number of employees: 60

Financing purpose: working capital; growth

EU financing: EaSI Guarantee Financial Instrument