Knitwear craze boosts POL position

The revival of knitwear as a key fashion staple has spurred Sydney label POL to emerge from hibernation and re-launch.
POL co-founder Samantha Jones - who set up the label two years ago with business partner Helen Kristensen - confirmed the pair was developing a boutique knitwear collection having been out of action last season due to personal commitments.
Priced between $89 and $149, Jones said the range includes chunky cable knits, swing cardigans, argyle knits, cable knit vests and fine-gauge poet-sleeve shirts with grosgrain ribbon belts, embodying POL's "thoroughly modern vintage" tagline.
With plans to sell through agents in September for a retail release in February 2007, POL was targeted solely at independent boutiques, she said.
"We really don't want this to be a big mass market venture; it's a little love thing."
Jones - who recently moved into knitwear imports consulting through her own company Luxe Industries - said the knitwear category was due for a "major resurgence" next winter, following big hitters like Balenciaga and Burberry who had turned out all manner of knitwear.
Luxe was in discussions with a range of new clients swept along by the craze; including Bec & Bridge, Andy Soma, Hussy, Bracewell, Simona, Camilla and Kaftan Queen, she said.
A self-confessed knitwear junky, whose 15 years of in industry included senior roles at Howard Showers, David Lawrence and Simona, Jones could assist designers with the logistics of importing knitwear - developing the garments from initial conception to stock delivery into warehouse.
She claimed one of the biggest joys of the job was assisting "little guys and new labels" to take their first steps into knitwear, keeping costs down by bundling label shipments and catering to lower minimums.
"I'm passionate about knitwear. There are so many aspects to it; I could talk about it forever."