What inspired you to start a business creating scarves that people could design themselves?
I worked as a knitwear designer for many years and had this idea to knit custom products with custom drawings in mind for quite a while. Finally, the technology caught up, and with customisation tools now available for online stores, I could make it a reality.
Have there been any complications or roadblocks in starting/running your business?
Yes, we had to optimise our production process to make knitwear on-demand feasible. It was challenging to adapt the production process where its normal to only create large orders, to creating unique custom pieces efficiently.
What materials are the scarves made from?
We use special yarns made of 50% virgin cotton and 50% upcycled cotton. The upcycled fibres come from textile waste from Italian fashion factories. This makes us part of the circular economy, helping to create new products out of waste and make fashion more sustainable. The products made of these yarns are really soft and comfortable to wear. The quality is really good and we get really good feedback from our customers.
Where do you source your yarn from?
All of our yarns are produced in Italy.
CUSTOMER LOVE FOR RELOOPED BY YOU
“Best gift ever!
It is so much fun to make (together) and what a great result! Very happy with the translation of the drawing and also the knitting is very soft. A super special and personal gift to give.”
Are the scarves made with knitting machines or knitted by hand? Can you elaborate on the manufacturing process?
All of our scarves and plaids are custom-knitted using intarsia technique on knitting machines. We transform the drawings we receive into knitting patterns and knit them into soft products.
Are there any limitations to what people can have knitted on the scarves?
Our designs aren’t printed—they’re knitted, which does bring some limitations. You can create designs in two or, at most, three colors, depending on the product. When we transform the drawing into a knitting patterns it looks like pixel art, similar to an old-school pixelated drawing. Imagine that every pixel (little square) in this pixelated drawing will be turned into one knitted stitch. Each product also has a specific template size, which determines how detailed your design can be.
Where are the scarves made? Are they made in the Netherlands?
The scarves are knitted and ethically produced by a small local producer in Slovenia. We moved from the Netherlands to Slovenia and now live close to the producer, which allows us to be very hands-on. We personally inspect every piece before sending it to customers.
How has the response been to the scarves? Can you share some customer feedback?
The response has been above expectations! We’re grateful for so much positive feedback and we love to see so much imagination, creativity and love being put into the designs that we receive. Relooped products are incredibly versatile—customers use them as thoughtful, personal gifts for all kinds of occasions or as keepsakes for artists and illustrators, and moms of course. So we have to make sure that we always deliver high quality products that justify all the work and love that has been put into every design. We also maintain a personal connection with our customers, offering advice and support during their creative journey, which they really seem to appreciate.
Do you see a mix of children’s and adult designs coming through?
Absolutely! We’re here for anyone who feels inspired to design their own knitted masterpiece, whether it’s a gift or a personal keepsake.
Do you ship internationally?
We currently ship to European countries, UK and US/Canada.
What is the process for someone to create a design on one of your scarves?
First, download the drawing template for the product you want to create. You can either draw by hand on paper or use a drawing app (like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop or Procreate). With the template, we also provide tutorials and tips to ensure your design looks fantastic.
If you’re drawing by hand, print the template and sketch your design. We recommend tracing the pencil lines with a black marker for the best results. Then, take a photo of your design with your phone and upload it to our website. From there, you can choose the yarn colours and personalise the design further—like adding your name. The entire process is easy to follow on our website.
How long does it take to create a scarf after you receive the order?
To knit the design it takes a maximum of 10 working days, though we often knit in batches, so it’s sometimes even faster.
Can people purchase a plain scarf from you? Or are they only available through the design process?
No, we don’t sell plain scarves or plaids. With the intarsia knitting technique we use, the designs are a key part of the process. The back of the scarf ends up being a mirrored, negative version of the front. This technique is specifically meant for creating patterns, which works perfectly for knitting drawings and illustrations.
Do you have any exciting collaborations or projects coming up you’d like to mention?
We always have something exciting in the works! One fun project was in the Netherlands, where we collaborated with an elementary school. The kids designed their own scarves, and we turned their creations into actual knitted pieces. It was so much fun seeing their creativity come to life—they absolutely loved it! Plus, it gave them a glimpse into how much work goes into making a fashion item, hopefully inspiring them to take better care of their own clothes in the future.
Founder: Spela Tabak
Website: relooped.nl/en
Contact: [email protected]
Location: Netherlands & Slovenia
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