Janne Landuyt

Production Locations

• Belgium

Working Conditions & Living Wages

Every piece is handcrafted in Janne Landuyt’s studio in Belgium. By appointment, costumers can visit her colourful atelier on the Lutgart site, a creative hub in a former school in Beringen. The brand is registered with Ik Koop Belgisch, which confirms that the creative process takes place in Belgium.

Most yarns come from an Italian yarn manufacturer in Prato, Tuscany. Janne deliberately chooses a large, established European producer known for its quality.

Because production is handmade in Janne’s own atelier, working conditions here are directly in her hands. 

Materials

• Merino wool
• Cashmere
• Cotton
• Linen
• Viscose
• Mohair
• Alpaca
• Polyamide

Janne Landuyt’s knitwear is made mainly from merino wool and cashmere. The summer collection combines these with cotton, linen and viscose. Other collections use mohair, alpaca and, occasionally, polyamide.

A few designs include the synthetic fibre polyamide. The brand states that this helps the garments keep their shape. 

Packaging

• Janne packs each creation in a reusable cotton bag that protects it from sunlight and moths. For shipping, the brand uses PEFC-certified cardboard, so no plastic is involved in the packaging.
• Within the supply chain there is nearly no transport needed. 

Water Usage & Chemicals

The yarn manufacturer holds the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certificate. This certificate confirms that the finished yarns have been tested for harmful substances and stay within OEKO-TEX limits. 

Because Janne Landuyt works mainly with natural fibres and only adds the synthetic polyamide where it is truly needed, most of her pieces are unlikely to shed synthetic microplastics in the wash. 

Circular Product Design

Many Janne Landuyt designs are material blends. The brand says it consciously chooses as many natural fibres as possible. A blend of, for example, merino wool and cotton (two natural fibres) is easier to recycle than a natural fibre mixed with a synthetic one. 

Circular Business Models

Janne offers a repair service. Within one month of purchase, repairs are free. After that, costumers can have their item repaired for a fee. 

Distance & Complexity of the Supply Chain

Production locations:

• Belgium (design and knitting)
• Italy (yarn spinning)

Janne designs and knits every collection in her Beringen studio, partly on second-hand knitting machines. The yarns are spun in Tuscany, Italy. This makes for a relatively short supply chain. 

Transportation

• Because every item is knitted in the atelier, no transport is needed at the making stage. When costumers order, they can even collect their piece in person and get a behind-the-scenes look.
• For E‑Commerce, carton and paper is being used. 

Animal Welfare

• Merino wool
• Cashmere
• Mohair
• Alpaca wool

The most-used material is merino wool. The brand states that it chooses wool that is RWS and/​or RMS certified (Responsible Wool Standard and Responsible Mohair Standard). These standards check the animals’ living conditions to help prevent cruelty and mulesing. 
There is no certification mentioned for the cashmere or alpaca.

Product Design

Although the collections follow the seasons, many pieces are suitable year-round. Each collection features the atypical, original colour combinations typical of Janne’s style. She designs for men, women and several gender-neutral pieces.

Slow Fashion Processes

Because every garment is handmade, Janne produces in small collections with limited batches, releasing two collections a year. She also makes made-to-measure designs: Costumers can choose the colour, size and design, and Janne knits it to suit their figure and personality. The brand is even open to one-off creative commissions, so your knit becomes a wearable piece of art that fits you completely.

Prefer to get creative yourself? Janne Landuyt also runs knitting workshops, from a self-designed scarf to more technical techniques.

Transparency on Product

Because every product is handmade in Beringen, Belgium, costumers always know exactly where their specific piece was made. The product pages list the materials for each item.

Transparency on Processes

This small Belgian brand is open about how it works. Speaking to COSH!, Janne shared the name and location of her yarn producer, which allowed us to verify the information more thoroughly. She also shares plenty about her own studio on her website. 

Costumers can visit the site or book an atelier visit, and Janne will happily talk them through her knitwear.