Alongside their impressive progress towards more sustainable practice and supply chain transparency, UPW presented their latest collection in Florence and shared news of industry collaborations including AI developments. For their FW24 collection, UPW’s inspiration lead by creative director Carlo Volpi was rooted in a belief in the importance of community.

Carlo Volpi has worked as Creative Director at UPW since 2018. With a wealth of experience in knitwear design working as a consultant for the Pitti Filati Research Area and as a tutor at the Royal College of Art, Carlo has a passion for innovation and handcrafted textiles. This in-depth knowledge of the potential of knitted textiles guides the direction of each UPW collection.

Working towards their goal of achieving net zero emissions in 2050, UPWs 10 core yarns have been verified and obtained the carbon footprint certification and label by TÜV SÜD. 6 core yarn products were certified as carbon neutral in March 2023. UPW aims to transform all their materials into traceable, certified raw materials. Across their collections GOTS and OCS certifications are held, as well as certifications for responsible animal fibre sourcing.

Read Beth Ranson’s full report on Knitting Industry Creative