The Workshop
The Nitto Knitwear Workshop
With fifty years' experience in top-of-the-range knitwear, one of the last knitting workshops in the Paris region is creating Nitto Knitwear in 2022, a brand of 100% made-in-France jumpers for men.
Initially specialising in women's knitwear under the Tricots Jean Marc brand, the workshop saw the founder's grandson take up the torch in 2011, with the determination to carry on the legacy. In 2016, an order from a Japanese distributor for a men's collection provided the opportunity to make an old dream come true: to create durable, elegant jumpers for men, made in France.
Each Nitto Knitwear model is designed using high-quality natural fibres, such as merino wool, renowned for its softness and thermal performance. They are knitted in 14 gauge for a fine, assertive finish.
A new name was needed to distinguish the men's line, which is more contemporary and technical, from the women's line already present in Japan. Inspired by exchanges with Japanese customers, Nitto - which means ‘knitting’ in Japanese - was chosen as a symbol of the link between French craftsmanship and international openness.
Today, Tricots Jean Marc and Nitto Knitwear together embody the excellence of French knitwear: authentic know-how, a demand for quality and a responsible commitment.
THE WORKSHOP
Long before the creation of Nitto Knitwear, the story of our family workshop began in the 1970s. My grandfather and his partner knitted their first women's jumpers in a garage, driven by a constant concern for quality. In 1988, the workshop relocated and grew from 20 to 75 employees in the early 2000s, becoming a recognised player in the French knitwear industry.
Today, this historic workshop remains at the heart of Nitto Knitwear production, combining traditional craftsmanship with textile innovation. Equipped with 20 top-of-the-range Shima Seiki and Stoll machines, it is able to produce complex pieces of impeccable quality.
The know-how handed down through three generations is expressed at every stage: machine programming, meticulous assembly, washing and fulling to ensure softness, strength and longevity. The natural fibres are selected from the best European spinning mills, to ensure responsible, sustainable production.
Our workshop is more than just a place of production; it is the symbol of a living heritage, carried on by passionate craftsmen, some of whom have been with us for over 40 years. Our high standards and love of a job well done are reflected in every Nitto Knitwear jumper, and we're proud to see them recognised by the Made in France label.
MANUFACTURING
At Nitto Knitwear, creating a jumper is above all a story of passion and precision, handed down through three generations. It all starts with the rigorous selection of natural materials - merino wool, mohair, cashmere, cotton - from the best European spinners.
The design of a model then goes through the technical writing of the knitting: type of stitch, knitting point, dimensions... Every detail is thought out to sublimate the material. Then comes the programming of the top-of-the-range Shima Seiki and Stoll machines, where craft expertise meets technology to knit with millimetre precision.
After knitting, the panels are washed, fulled and ironed, to ensure softness, suppleness and durability. Each material is specially treated to preserve its natural qualities.
From the selection of the yarn to the assembly, every step is designed to create elegant, comfortable jumpers that are made to last - in keeping with our commitment to responsible, artisanal production.
