Lily and Albert: original fishermen’s knitwear

When the temperature drops, we cannot get enough of sweaters and cardigans. A cold weather forecast calls for a super stylish range of cosy jumpers and chunky cardigans. But moose and reindeer motifs are not for all, so if you long more than ever for the smell of salt air and beach summer holidays, here is what you need!

Lily and Albert is a unisex brand providing timeless and hand-made products inspired by traditional Portuguese fishermen’s knitwear.

Captivated by the expertise involved in this age-old tradition, Kathryn McCormick has created her sea life-inspired and eco-friendly knitting label, ethically hand-made using recycled yarn.

“I have always been interested in fashion,” she said. “From a young age, I would be trawling through my mother’s wardrobe in the hope of finding that unique piece with a bit of history to it. When I discovered this ongoing traditional craft, I felt I had found just that.”

And intuition is a short step to the realisation: “Armed with savings from my gap-year work and a small loan to buy some stock, I set up a photo shoot, learnt how to create an e-commerce site and launched the online shop.”

This season, Lily and Albert present two collections using only recycled wool of the highest quality for both men and women.

Each item has been hand-knitted by skilled artisans, making no two cardigans the same. The knitwear produced is made to last, shunning the world of fast fashion for a wardrobe of investment pieces which will stand the test of time.

Add a dose of laid-back cool to your knitwear portfolio with the heavy-weight wool Cast in Stone line – a luxuriously soft collection with every piece being entirely unique.

Style an oversized piece with sleek leather pants, or get a nautical, effortlessy chic twist with each item from the Old Sea Dog line. Truly authentic, using only natural dyes to produce colours, they reflect the essence of the brand: the outdoor wardrobe. Practical, cosy and hard-wearing, perfect to wear with boyfriend-cut jeans! 

Natural and renewable, sustainable, water resistant, biodegradable, breathable, the wool is able to adjust to your body temperature, keeping you warm when you’re cold, but releasing heat when you’re warm. Genius! 

Get a look at the entire Lily and Albert collection here.

Laura De Vittori