Strawberry Cardigans

Amano knitwear is ethically handmade and fair-trade, crafted by artisans in South America, primarily Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru, since 1988. Each piece is hand-knit, from high-quality alpaca or wool, and designed with vibrant colors and individual character. Our garment tags even include the name of the knitter who made your piece, emphasizing the human connection in our fashion.

When it comes to answering this question, it is hard to say. There are multiple factors, such as the complexity of the design, whether it is the first time our knitters have worked with the pattern, and how we are measuring the time taken. However, along with the better quality yarn, the skill levels have increased exponentially. We would say that a star cardigan, for example, will take around two days' work with a 7-hour day.

The best way to store hand-knit sweaters is to store them flat, as this prevents stretching and distortion. You could also store your knitted sweater in breathable containers, avoiding airtight plastic, and ensure that you are protecting your sweaters from heat and sunlight. 

Yes, you can. However, we would advise washing your hand-knitted sweaters as little as possible - not only is this positive for the environment, but it really isn't necessary with general wear.  

When you are washing your sweaters, it's best to hand-wash; however, if you choose to machine wash, you should use a delicate cycle with a short duration and cold water. Avoid ringing or twisting the fabrics, and dry your sweater flat to prevent stretching. 

To prevent pilling, we would recommend washing your sweaters inside out on a gentle cycle. You should avoid over-washing or tumble drying, as this will lead to further pilling. If your knitwear does show signs of pilling, using a fabric shaver or lint roller is the best way to remove excess fabric. Also when wearing a bag over your shoulder, or using a walking stick, anything that has a repetitive action will create rubbing and pilling. 

We have provided a sizing guide herefor you to check your measurements. If you are still unsure, please feel free to contact our friendly team.

We dispatch from both the UK and Ecuador. For certain styles (especially our Amano star cardigan styles), we ship directly from Ecuador using couriers like FedEx, DHL, or UPS, with delivery typically taking 5-10 days to the USA and the rest of the world,  and 7-12 days from the UK via Royal Mail International tracked. 

For orders shipped from the UK (especially our new cotton range), we use Royal Mail for UK Standard Tracked Delivery (3-5 days, free over £100) and UK Express Delivery (1-2 working days). International with Royal Mail will be around 5 to 10 days. You'll receive email updates and can track your order.

If you are not happy with your purchase for any reason, you can return it for a refund up to 21 days from receipt of goods. The returned product must be new, in perfect condition, and complete with original swing tags and packaging.

For USA returns you will need to contact the office and they will give you an address in the USA for the returns. contact our friendly team.